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Farming Today: 27/03/2012

27/03/2012

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 27/03/2012

Thousands of billy goat kids are destroyed at birth as a by-product of the milk industry.

Presented by Anna Hill. Calls to stop thousands of billy goat kids being put down at birth as a by-product of a thriving goats' milk industry.

Thousands of billy goat kids are put down at birth each year on farms in the UK. The young male goats, like their veal calf counterparts are viewed as a bi-product of the dairy industry. As the demand for goat milk increases, there are calls for a change to the practise to encourage goat farmers to rear the animals for meat which is popular in Caribbean, Asian and North African cuisine. 

There are only around 300 of the native breeding female 'Middle White' pigs left in the world which puts them on the Rare Breed Survival Trust's watch list. 22 of the sows belong to South Cumbrian Pig Farmer Shaun Partington who says by selling the meat from their offspring - he is helping keep the bloodline alive. Caz Graham visits him on his farm. 

And ahead of the Government's revised National Planning Policy Framework, Anna Hill investigates whether fears over what has been described as the most radical change to the England's planning system will help dramatically boost the rural economy or put the countryside under threat. 

This programme is presented by Anna Hill and produced in Birmingham by Angela Frain.

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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27/03/2012

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