The British pig sector is paying tribute to Rob Beckett, a highly respected figure and visionary leader, who has been posthumously awarded with the prestigious David Black Award for his outstanding and lasting impact in the industry.

Rob’s career began on his family farm is South Shropshire, which led to his role leading Yorkwold Pigpro Ltd. His clear vision, “to strive not to be the biggest, but to be the best and to put quality first,” guided the business through significant expansion and rationalisation, ultimately nearly doubling the sow herd over 25 years. This commitment to quality was the foundation of Yorkwold’s celebrated, long-term partnership with Morrisons, evidenced by the sale of the two-millionth pig to the retailer last year.

A passionate advocate for the pig sector

Beyond his success at Yorkwold, Rob was a tireless advocate for industry-wide improvement. His service of six years to the Red Tractor Pigs Sector Board was instrumental, where he consistently provided the insight and expertise necessary to drive positive change and ensure high standards of animal welfare and sustainability were met across the sector.

A colleague spoke highly of Rob, saying: “In each role, he provided insight and expertise to drive change and improvement – always challenging but constructive, always professional, always a gentleman.”

Dedication to high standards

Rob’s dedication to high standards was mirrored by his commitment to his staff. He was a firm believer that high standards of animal care could only be achieved through implementing high standards of people care. He invested heavily in training and mentoring for those who worked for him.

Rob’s wider contributions to the farming industry included serving on the Pig Health and Welfare Council’s Welfare Committee and his leadership as Chairman of Thames Valley Cambac, where he guided the merger that created the United Pig Co-operative, strengthening the independent producer base across the country.

A true supporter of Red Tractor

Stewart Houston, Chair of the Pigs Sector Board, remembers how “Rob embodied the ethos of the Red Tractor Pigs Board and was a true supporter of what Red Tractor was all about. He was respected for his strong views and informed argument and continued to contribute virtually when his treatment made his ability to travel too difficult. Towards the end, we shared each other’s experience of the terrible disease that took him from us, but which he dealt with in the same pragmatic way that we tussled with some of the industry’s more challenging problems. We miss him!”

Red Tractor is updating its guidance to help clarify permitted methods of euthanasia on commercial pig farms. It follows recent high-profile cases where individuals on Red Tractor assured units have euthanised pigs, using methods that are not permitted, posing a serious risk to the industry’s reputation and to the individual member. Red Tractor therefore reviewed existing legislation and interpretations to produce this guidance.  

The guidance confirms that pig producers, on commercial pig farms, must only use permitted methods of euthanasia, and clarifies that any blunt force trauma, including if used for piglets, must be mechanical blunt force trauma – using a specifically designed device.  As such producers should have the necessary equipment, such as a Cash Small Animal Tool, available on farm with staff trained to use it, including for piglets under 5 kg.   Mechanical devices, where used for piglet euthanasia, must deliver a minimum of 27.7 joules (j) energy (as described in the manufacturer’s specification). 

A collective effort 

The new guidance was unanimously agreed by the Red Tractor Pigs Sector Board, including representatives from producers, the NPA, UFU, and PVS. It is intended to support compliance with legislation and remove ambiguity while also upholding the reputation of the industry.  

Stewart Houston, Chair of the Pig Sector Board, said: “The Red Tractor Standards provide producers with reassurance that their procedures are in line with expectations and in keeping with high standards of animal welfare. After reviewing recent interpretations of the complex legislation surrounding euthanasia, the Board acted unanimously and decisively to ensure this was reflected in the Red Tractor Pigs Standard.” 

Lizzie Wilson, Chief Executive of the National Pig Association, said: “Scrutiny of animal welfare practices within the pigs sector is increasing. As a result, many producers have already moved away from using non-mechanical blunt force trauma. NPA welcomes the addition of clear guidance to the Red Tractor Pig Standard, helping all assured pig producers to adopt practices that comply with the law.” 

Duncan Berkshire, Pig Veterinary Society, said: “The legislation surrounding euthanasia of pigs on commercial pig farms is complex and our understanding has evolved considerably over the last three years creating confusion across the sector. This guidance provides much needed clarity for producers, vets and other stakeholders.” 

The Red Tractor Pigs Sector Board will continue to work with NPA, PVS, UFU and other stakeholders to continue to review industry developments and our standards in the light of new developments. 

What has changed 

New guidance supports the existing standard, AH.9.1.b clarifying ‘permitted methods’ of euthanasia. It also requires that any use of a non-permitted method of euthanasia in an exceptional emergency must be recorded with accompanying written justification. 

What members need to know 

• New guidance on euthanasia has been added to the Pigs Standards – the guidance provides clarity on permitted methods of euthanasia and reflects current interpretations of legislation 

• The standards have not changed – The Red Tractor Pigs Standard has always required producers to use legally permitted methods of euthanasia. 

Find out more 

Red Tractor has published a Technical Briefing providing details of the new guidance and answers to frequently asked questions.