Written by: Sophie Manton – Trials Assistant
My Placement Year with Quality Equipment:
As part of studying for my Veterinary Bioscience BSc (Hons) degree, I am completing a placement year at Quality Equipment (QE). I wanted to gain experience within the agricultural industry and develop my understanding of the pig sector. QE has given me the opportunity to work across both farm and office-based roles, while also getting to be involved in industry events, research and trials.
I have really enjoyed the variety so far. No two weeks feel the same, and I have been able to develop practical skills alongside analytical and research-based experience.
Gaining Farm Experience
A major part of my placement has therefore been gaining hands-on experience on the breeding unit, where I have become involved in activities including farrowing, tailing and ironing, weaning and serving.
Working directly with the pigs has helped me understand how different systems operate in practice. It has allowed me to consolidate the knowledge I gained at university while building on that foundation through practical experience. I have developed a much stronger appreciation of the practical considerations involved in the pig industry, from animal handling and welfare to day-to-day husbandry and management.
I have also gained experience within an outdoor farming system, including feeding, serving, health monitoring and mucking out. Seeing a different production system alongside the indoor breeding unit has been particularly valuable, allowing me to compare different approaches and understand how management practices vary between systems.
Office-Based Contributions
My placement also involves office-based work, helping me develop skills that complement my practical experience.
I have gained experience using Excel and JMP, a statistical analysis programme that I had not previously used. This has helped develop my data handling and analysis skills, working with data including weights, body condition scores and observations collected through ethograms.
I have also had the opportunity to learn about product design and function through workshop days focusing on products such as Paneltim and Transition Feeders. This has given me an insight into how agricultural equipment is designed, manufactured and used in practice.
Biosecurity has also been an important focus, particularly during the early stages of my placement. This has allowed me to consider biosecurity from a practical farm perspective and understand how equipment, farm layout and working practices can contribute to reducing disease risks.
Getting Involved in Trials and Research
Another valuable part of my placement has been contributing to trials and research projects. I have been involved in data collection, analysis and research, helping to investigate questions relevant to the pig industry.
This has given me an opportunity to see how research can be applied to real-world production systems and how trial results can contribute to future decision-making. It has also helped me understand how research gaps can be identified by considering what results mean, what questions they raise and where further investigation may be needed.
The experience has allowed me to apply skills I have learnt at university to real industry-based projects, while developing skills that will be valuable alongside my continuing studies and when deciding on the direction of my dissertation.
Industry Outings and Networking
One of the things I am most looking forward to over the rest of my placement year is attending events such as Let’s Talk Pork and YNPA National. Through my work so far, I have already had opportunities to meet people working across different areas of the industry, including nutritionists, vets and sales representatives.
These events will provide further opportunities to build my professional network, hear different perspectives and gain a better understanding of the wider pig industry beyond my day-to-day role. I also receive a subscription to Pig World, which has been a useful way of keeping up to date with current issues and developments within the sector.
So Far…
Although I am only a few months into my placement year, I have already gained a huge amount from the experience. I have developed my confidence, strengthened existing skills and learnt completely new ones.
Most importantly, I am developing a much more well-rounded understanding of the pig industry, with experience spanning practical farm work, data analysis, research, equipment and product development, biosecurity and industry networking.
The support and involvement I have received from the team has made the experience very positive so far. I have been encouraged to get involved, ask questions and take on new challenges while being given the support to develop my skills along the way.
I am looking forward to what the rest of my placement year brings and continuing to build my experience within the industry. For me, one of the biggest benefits of completing a placement year has been seeing how the knowledge and skills I have developed at university are applied in the real world, while gaining a clearer understanding of the opportunities available within the agricultural and pig industries.
Due to the continued demand for Paneltim plastic panels for piggeries, Suffolk-based equipment supplier and manufacturer Quality Equipment has invested more than £75,000 in a new saw and automated welder, specially designed to deal with plastic.
Quality Equipment has always prided itself on being a down-to-earth company. This was certainly the case for seven members of staff who got their hands – and everything else – dirty while taking part in the Only The Brave mud obstacle run. The event took place at Elveden Estates, near Thetford on Sunday 2nd April.
The aim was to raise £500 for the company’s favoured charity, the East Anglian Air Ambulance service. Pledges at over £1,000 have more than doubled this sum. A team of seven took part, plus two non-QE staff, with some tackling the five-mile and others braving the ten-mile course with over 40 obstacles!
Due to increased demand for Paneltim by pig farmers, Quality Equipment has extended its storage area by 220m² (2368 sq ft) at its Woolpit, Suffolk, base.
This will enable the company to stock an extra 5,000m² (53,819 sq ft) of the plastic panel, widely used in piggeries, particularly for pen division and gates. It offers substantial benefits in terms of strength and hygiene over many traditional materials.