����ý

A company backing plans for a large pig farm in Co Londonderry has defended the development near Limavady.

If approved by planners, the farm on Glenhead Road would house five pig units to accommodate 13,000 animals.

The farm is being backed by the PCM Group which negotiates with processors on behalf of 32 pig farmers.

Opponents have raised concerns about emissions, but supporters say the farm's design features will mitigate the environmental impact.

PCM Group spokesman Hugh McReynolds said it would be a "high welfare" site.

He said UK supermarkets were increasingly committing to buying British pork and there was a market for the meat.

The site has the capacity to produce around 58,000 pigs a year.

Causeway Coast and Glens Council will decide whether it gets the go-ahead.

So far it has been sent 3,000 letters of objection, five petitions with a total of almost 14,000 signatures and two letters of support.

The farmer, Thomas Simpson, has been asked to provide planners with levels of odour, noise and ammonia.

Planning documents show proposals for air scrubbers on several of the units to reduce emissions.

He has declined to comment on the plans.

It is estimated that the farm will produce 22,000 tonnes of slurry and nitrogen-rich water a year.

That will be spread on 1,300 acres belonging to eight different landowners.

Hugh McReynolds said the pigs would be raised to a certain stage before being moved to other farms.

He said this would improve herd health and cut antibiotic and vaccine use in the animals - an important consumer concern.

An Executive strategy to expand Northern Ireland's agri-food industry includes plans to increase sow numbers here.

The target is an increase of 40% to 53,000 sows by 2020.