Profiled in 'Farmers Weekly'
Pig housing at Shingle Hall, Brampton: the second
Shufflebottom unit, which will bring pig numbers up to 1,460, under
construction in 2011
Suffolk farmer Paul Howland's custom-designed Shufflebottom pig
unit, constructed in 2010, was profiled in the Farmers
Weekly of December 9th 2011. Mr Howland, of Shingle Hall,
Brampton, Beccles, is quoted as saying: "When you invest in a new
building, health (of the pigs) will inevitably be good but I am
confident that as the building ages the spec is such that it will
continue to give us good results. It will stand the test of
time."
Mr Howland, who farms in partnership with his father Maurice,
opted for British Quality Pigs' 'gold membership' package to give a
pre-agreed income per pig plus a weight bonus. This degree of
income certainty, over five years, gave him the confidence to
invest in high quality pig housing.
The housing, for 750 pigs, includes automated side curtain
ventilation system for temperature control and weather protection.
Straw from the farm's arable land provides bedding for the pigs,
and their manure goes back on the ground as fertiliser.
By spring 2012 a second building (pictured above) will also be
in use, bringing the total number of pigs up to 1,460. Both
buildings are 37.54 metres by 14.988 metres and have seven bays.
The steelwork is shotblast to B.S. SA 2.5 and has a hot-dipped
galvanised finish to BNEN 1461. Each building has 14
rooflights.
See Farmers Weekly, December 9 2011, 'Expanding farm
opportunities with investment' by Debbie James, pps 36 and
38.