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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Joanna Partridge

British farmers call for summit on worsening pig-cull crisis

Pig farmers say Brexit and Covid led to an exodus of workers from abattoirs and meat processors.
Pig farmers say Brexit and Covid led to an exodus of workers from abattoirs and meat processors. Photograph: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images

The national pig herd has lost-one tenth of all sows over the last six months, farmers’ associations have revealed, after breeders were forced into a massive cull caused by a shortage of labour in abattoirs.

The National Farmers’ Union president, Minette Batters, and the National Pig Association chairman, Rob Mutimer, have written a joint letter to the environment, food and rural affairs secretary, George Eustice, calling for an urgent summit to address labour and supply-chain concerns.

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