Temporary bureau service set up for data input

From July 1, Real Welfare assessments will become compulsory for pig farms to comply with the Red Tractor assurance scheme.

The assessments are to be completed by vets on behalf of their clients and submitted to a bureau service as a temporary measure, during which the bureau will input the information on to a web portal.

The bureau service will be operated by Meat and Livestock Commercial Services Ltd (MLCSL), who will also enter details of farm setup.

After six months, the I-Pig app for Real Welfare will be up and running, enabling vets to capture the data they collect both quickly and easily.

As the data capture builds, vets will be able to log on to review the results and discuss them with their clients. Furthermore, benchmarking figures will be made available.

"The app is still under development and is being tested but there are still some issues with it," said Katja Stoddart, research projects manager.

"However it is still extremely important to collect data so there are two options being offered, the web portal or the bureau service, which BPEX will fund."

Prepaid envelopes will be sent to all vets and data sheets can be submitted to the bureau service via post (RW Forms Bureau Service, MLCSL, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2TL).

Data sheets can also be scanned and emailed to rwforms@mlcsl.co.uk or faxed to 0247 669 2405.