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On Your Farm

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Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Getting to the heart of country life with a look at individual farming endeavours

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On Your Farm: 28/03/2010

28/03/2010

BBC Radio 4 - On Your Farm, 28/03/2010

Caz Graham investigates the challenges of pig farming at a remote cliff-top farm in Devon.

With half of British pig farmers going out of business in the last decade, Caz Graham visits a cliff-top pig farm in Devon to find out the challenges facing the industry today.

Lester Bowker farms 750 sows on his outdoor pig farm near Budleigh Salterton in Devon. Three to four hundred piglets are born on this farm every week. In this week's On Your Farm, Caz Graham explores the challenges facing the pig industry today, from the cost of feed to welfare issues such as tail docking and teeth clipping. Over the last ten years, half of the pig farmers in Britain have gone out of business. Two years ago, Lester Bowker had to make the decision whether to continue his Devon farm. He decided to carry on and now, he is finally making a profit. He tells Caz Graham his story and explains the challenges he faces farming such a remote landscape on the cliff tops of the Devon coast.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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On Your Farm

28/03/2010

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