THE innovative high-welfare pig unit at Bishop Burton College farm has won another industry accolade.

It received the Leadership in Pig Welfare Award at the Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards organised by Compassion in World Farming.

The award highlights and encourages good practice and innovation in key areas of pig production – primarily in the UK, France, Italy, Germany and The Netherlands.

Bishop Burton won it for keeping tails on the fattening pigs and for the good work the staff do in group housing and farrowing.

Farm manager Dominic Naylor and farm assistant Gavin Hodgson attended a gala dinner in London to accept the award on behalf of the college.

It is the first time the awards have included a section for pigs.

Mr Naylor said: “It’s fantastic to be recognised for the innovative work we are doing on the pig unit and for the college to be held up as an example of best practice in the industry in this way.

“We have worked hard over the past few years to ensure we maintain high-welfare standards and conduct and follow research to ensure what we do is the best for the animals because, in doing so, we are producing food of a very high quality.”

The award follows the unit’s RSPCA Freedom Food accreditation, and many visits by supermarkets and multinationals – many of whom hope to replicate the Bishop Burton system in their own businesses.

The unit farrows outside in arcs and the weaners are then reared indoors on straw. Dry sows brought onto the unit are also housed outside to harden off in time for farrowing.

Katy Read, head of food business at Compassion in World Farming said: “We’re delighted to see so many companies at our biggest ever UK awards event, demonstrating that higher welfare farming makes good business sense.

“Our winners are responsible for improving the lives of millions of farm animals in the UK and we look forward to working with our partners on our next challenge, the Good Pig Award next year.”

A total of 48 winners received awards with more than five million hens, chickens, pigs, dairy cows and calves benefiting from their policies.