The 31st anniversary of the Capa Blanca Golden Pig Awards was celebrated in Zaragoza on November 29, 2024 with around 1,000 attendees.
Galicia, with 13 statuettes (including the 3 special awards), becomes the community with the most awards; followed by Catalonia, with 12 awards, and Aragon, with 8.
The Zaragoza Auditorium hosted the celebration of the 31st edition of the Capa Blanca Golden Pig Awards on November 29, in front of the attentive gaze of more than 1,000 professionals in the sector who attended the presentation of these awards. Organized by the Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentarias (IRTA) and with the BDporc database, the Pig Reference Database, the awards are given by a jury of experts from the industry, livestock research and administration In this edition,
the gala has had the presence and support, also extensive in the Spanish white coat pork sector, by Javier Rincón Gimeno, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food of the Government of Aragon; Óscar Ordeig, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food of the Generalitat of Catalonia; Fernando Beltrán, delegate of the Government in Aragon; Rosa Cubel, Secretary of Food of the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food; Rosa Altisent, general director of Agriculture and Livestock; Manuel García, president of the White Coated Pork Interprofessional (INTERPORC); Rafael Pedrazuela, director of the Pig Business Unit of CEVA Salut Animal; and Josep Usall, director general of IRTA.
Josep Usall was in charge of delivering, on behalf of IRTA and the organization, a very special recognition to Rosa Cubel, who for years has contributed with her commitment to promoting BDporc and the Porc d’Or Awards . Usall recalled that “we are celebrating 31 years alongside a powerful and innovative sector, and it is an honor to accompany you for another year. This gala belongs to you, the producers and the sector. Today, the IRTA awards its Special Award to a person who has dedicated his life to the transformation of the sector and to the promotion of these awards. This year, the recognition goes to Rosa Cubel, a key figure whose work deserved this tribute for some time.”
Galicia wins the 2024 Porc d’Or Awards with 13 awards, including the three special ones
Galicia, with a total of 13 statuettes (9 for the province of Ourense, 3 for A Coruña and 1 for Pontevedra): 4 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze. In addition, the 3 special prizes have also traveled to this community. The Golden Pig with Diamond Award went to Ponte Coirós, from Coren, located in Coirós (A Coruña). The jury of the Golden Pig Awards highlights this farm’s high production efficiency maintained over time, the high survival rate of the suckling piglets, the census balance, the meticulous handling of the animals in all phases of production and the great professionalism of its human team. This success is complemented by a rigorous record of data and clear action protocols in the different areas of the farm. In addition, the farm keeps sows with whole tails, providing them with straw beds during gestation and soft sawdust floors in the nurseries.Ceva Salut Animal’s One Health Special Award went to the Bendoiro Farm, from Nudesa, located in Bendoiro – Lalín (Pontevedra), for which the jury highlights the excellent continuous, active and joint work between the veterinarian and the farmer to improve the health of the animals, the appropriate biosecurity measures, cleaning and disinfection, the meticulous vaccination plan, as well as a strict control of the entry of external animals. With this holistic mentality and comprehensive approach to guarantee excellent health in pig production, they have achieved a good sanitary level and a prudent use of antibiotics during 2023. The good working climate, the result of good working conditions, is also noteworthy and the training and motivation of workers. All this has a positive impact on the health and well-being of the animals.
Finally, MAPA’s Golden Pig Prize for Sustainability has gone to the Celanova farm, de Coren, located in Celanova (Ourense). In this case, the jury highlights the excellent biosecurity, cleanliness and health status of its animals. In environmental matters, the integral management of slurry through a solid-liquid separation plant and its application to the land of the farm where it is located stands out, favoring the circular economy and the reaction of emissions, as well as the use of renewable energies. In relation to animal welfare, the large spaces available with very good enrichment, the good ventilation and natural lighting, and the exquisite general management of the facilities by the staff, including improvement initiatives, are noteworthy continuous as the use of free birthing machines.
Catalonia and Aragon complete a TOP3 that takes 33 of the 43 statuettes awarded at the 2024 Golden Pig Awards
The Galician community was closely followed by Catalonia, with a total of 12 statuettes (7 for the province of Barcelona, 2 for Girona, 2 for Lleida and 1 for Tarragona): 4 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze. Closing the podium, we find Aragon, with 8 awards (5 for Huesca and 3 for the province of Zaragoza): 2 gold, 1 silver and 5 bronze. Navarra won 5 awards: 4 gold and 1 bronze; Castile and León took home 4 prizes (2 for Burgos, 1 for the province of Zamora and 1 for Salamanca): 1 gold and 3 silver. Andalusia closes the list, with 1 gold for the province of Seville. In total, 37 farms from 6 autonomous communities have received the 43 awards (40 general and three special awards) this year, in a gala full of emotion and nerves.
