Bishop Burton College in East Yorkshire has begun construction on its new state-of-the-art pig unit due to open this November.
The Centre for Indoor Pig Production’s farrowing facility will produce pigs for processing at White Rose Farms, part of Cranswick PLC.
The £1m centre will house 72 pens and will maintain a high standard of welfare for the animals. Agriculture and Animal Management students will be utilising the facility to gain knowledge and understanding of livestock management and will learn about the day to day running of a commercial venture. The business links coming through from the project will support the college’s curriculum design, ensuring students complete courses employment-ready.
Farm director, James Richardson, said: “We’re so excited to be welcoming pigs back on to campus. They will make a great addition to our range of livestock, and a fantastic learning resource for our students from a range of courses.”
The pig unit is expected to open in early November 2023, and welcome its first pigs ahead of farrowing in early December with stakeholders and local employers invited to an opening ceremony.
Rick Buckle, managing director of White Rose Farms, said: “At White Rose Farms, we are investing heavily to ensure the pig industry is fit for the future. We are pleased to be working with Bishop Burton College to support the pig unit on site and encourage students to consider the industry to develop their careers.”
Principal of Bishop Burton College, Bill Meredith, said: “We’re tremendously excited to see the opening of the pig unit this autumn. It represents an unparalleled opportunity for our further education students to learn first hand about pig rearing and develop the vital skills required in today’s farming industry.”
The unit will be constructed by construction company, AM Warkup. Managing Director, Andy Hall, said: “We’re delighted to be working in conjunction with Bishop Burton College and White Rose Farms to produce a facility for training the pig farmers of the future.”
The project will be in addition to the £1.4 million investment in the Institute of Technology and Centre for Precision Agriculture. The new facilities offer students the opportunity to develop higher-level skills. Through gaining this in-depth knowledge of precision agriculture, students are equipped to succeed as the next generation of farmers.
To read our full interview with James Richardson on Bishop Burton’s plans for its new pig unit, click here