Pig and Poultry Transport

[Frank-the-Wool]

I am speaking at a meeting in Brussels shortly that is being organised by the Green Party on the issue of live exports, however I am keen to turn the debate round to transport of livestock. I will be the villain of the piece!
While I know plenty about transport of sheep, cattle and calves, my knowledge of pig transport is several years out of date and poultry more so.

Within the EU pigs are the most widely transported animal and at one time travelled the greatest distances, many Weaners came from Holland and went to Spain for the Heavy hog market there.Does anyone know if this still continues?
What is the longest distance pigs travel in the UK for either finishing or slaughter? Similarly Poultry how far do they travel?

One interesting fact for you all is that in China more ducklings and chicks fly every day than people do in the world!

 

[Suffolk Serf]

I believe that Dutch weaners go to Germany more than Spain now. The Spanish have hugely increased their breeding herd. No doubt some still go to Spain.
In the UK four hour journey's would be common, in both weaners and finishers owing to consolidation in the processors and regionalisation of breeding (outdoors). Cull sows would travel the longest, e.g. from Scotland to just north of London, owing to the very few plants that handle these.
Personally, my cull sows and (small number of) finished pigs travel about 45 minutes and my weaners about 3 hours to the Midlands. My replacement gilts travel the longest, coming from Morayshire. Two drivers needed for that one. So in short, its variable.
@JP1 will be along soon with wise words from his knowledge of transport and new found enthusiasm for the pig job.

What I see of poultry, most broiler production is pretty close to processing sites.

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

I believe that Dutch weaners go to Germany more than Spain now. The Spanish have hugely increased their breeding herd. No doubt some still go to Spain.
In the UK four hour journey's would be common, in both weaners and finishers owing to consolidation in the processors and regionalisation of breeding (outdoors). Cull sows would travel the longest, e.g. from Scotland to just north of London, owing to the very few plants that handle these.
Personally, my cull sows and (small number of) finished pigs travel about 45 minutes and my weaners about 3 hours to the Midlands. My replacement gilts travel the longest, coming from Morayshire. Two drivers needed for that one. So in short, its variable.
@JP1 will be along soon with wise words from his knowledge of transport and new found enthusiasm for the pig job.

What I see of poultry, most broiler production is pretty close to processing sites.

Many thanks for this useful information. Is Cheales really the only outlet for Sows?
Do you know hat happens to N. Ireland Sows?

That must be pretty extreme disease free Gilts to come all that distance! Do they travel on a Higher Standard Vehicle? The journey must be 15 hours plus.

 

[Suffolk Serf]

There's also a good outlet for sows that has them contract slaughtered at a plant on the Norfolk/Suffolk borders.
Sorry don't know about NI. I assume there is an outlet in NI or the south.
Not so much about disease free gilts, more known health. A larger neighbour has them from the same source, so we fill an artic. The trailer is pretty standard (Pezzaioli) but does have drinkers fitted. They are on for up to 24 hours before being unloaded, owing to the lorry arriving in the evening and they're fine when they come off.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Im afraid I've nothing to add, but interesting subject.

 

[Matt]

Many thanks for this useful information. Is Cheales really the only outlet for Sows?
Do you know hat happens to N. Ireland Sows?

That must be pretty extreme disease free Gilts to come all that distance! Do they travel on a Higher Standard Vehicle? The journey must be 15 hours plus.

From what i have learnt of the drivers this last year, if the replacement breeding animals are high health, then he needs 2 or 3 days pig free. so would move them on a monday after having weekend or long weekend off.

 

[Suffolk Serf]

From what i have learnt of the drivers this last year, if the replacement breeding animals are high health, then he needs 2 or 3 days pig free. so would move them on a monday after having weekend or long weekend off.

Yes, that's how ours are done, in our supplier's particular case the trailer only does pigs from that farm or their own cattle. As they have a bulk haulage firm as well, the tractor unit and driver go on bulkers the rest of the time.
The breeding companies avoid 2-3 day standstills by moving down the "pyramid" through the week, starting with the highest health, nucleus, stock on a Monday, after a standstill, moving to multiplication and then commercial gilts through the week.