Pig and Poultry Farming Sectors Contribute to Pollution, Environmental Harm

Strategic Insights -

Pig and poultry farming sectors have been found to harm the environment, with a report revealing that the waste from producing millions of pigs and billions of birds and eggs a year is about 10.4 million cubic meters annually, equivalent to 4,160 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The high levels of nutrients in the manure make it hard to use it on farmland sustainably, causing pollution in rivers and harming water quality and wildlife.

The report warns that the situation is particularly acute in areas where poultry and pig production are concentrated, and highlights the "vast" area of land associated with the production of livestock beyond the intensive farming units themselves. Much of this land is used to grow feed for the animals, but it is often farmed using fertilizers and pesticides that can pollute the countryside, harming wildlife and habitats. Conservationists are calling for the government and industry to support farmers in shifting to a less polluting and more integrated pig and poultry system.

Key Takeaways:

  • The pig and poultry farming sectors contribute to pollution and environmental harm, with the waste from producing millions of pigs and billions of birds and eggs a year causing pollution in rivers and harming water quality and wildlife.
  • A report commissioned by the Wildlife Trusts estimates that 10.4 million cubic meters of waste is generated annually, equivalent to 4,160 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
  • The high levels of nutrients in the manure make it hard to use it on farmland sustainably, causing pollution in habitats including rivers.
  • The situation is particularly acute in "hotspots" where poultry and pig production are concentrated, with the majority of breeding sows in England falling outside environmental permitting rules.
  • Over a third of the UK's wheat crop goes to pig and poultry feed, with much of it grown using fertilizers and pesticides that can pollute the countryside and harm wildlife and habitats.
  • The report estimates that 520,000 to 580,000 hectares of wheat are needed for feed for pigs and poultry, equivalent to 34% to 38% of the country's total wheat crop.
  • The significant environmental impacts of pig and poultry feed production are outside of any reporting or permitting for the sector.
  • Conservationists are calling for the government and industry to support farmers to shift to a less polluting and more integrated pig and poultry system to clean up rivers and help meet environmentally related targets.

Statistics:

  • The UK breeds, grows, and slaughters approximately 11 million pigs and 1.1 billion chickens for food each year.
  • There is an egg-laying flock of approximately 40 million birds, producing around 12 billion eggs annually.
  • In England, 30% of pig holdings are in Yorkshire and Humberside, and 28% of all poultry holdings are in the Midlands.
  • In Wales, nearly 56% of the total poultry flock is in Powys, and in Northern Ireland, two-thirds of pig holdings are in just two council areas.
  • Some 520,000 to 580,000 hectares of wheat are needed for feed for pigs and poultry, equivalent to 34% to 38% of the country's total wheat crop.

Sources:

  • The Wildlife Trusts
  • Cumulus Consultants
  • "The Environmental Impact of Pig and Poultry Production in the UK" report
  • Barnaby Coupe, senior land use policy manager at the Wildlife Trusts
  • An Environment Department (Defra) spokesperson
  • "Farming rules for water" guidance by Defra
  • "Environment Agency farm inspections" by Defra