Ten years ago, following a chance meeting, we entered into discussions with the manager of a large, local organic farm regarding the setting up of a commercial organic, outdoor pig herd on the land to add natural fertility into the organic crop rotation system.  The original unit has expanded to cover four sites, including a nucleus breeding herd.

Over the last ten years our production system has evolved and continues to evolve. Our pig management system is very natural and pig friendly.  All matings are by natural service.  We have a clean, closed herd and so avoid all the potential health risks associated with the purchase of live breeding stock and/or semen.

We run a simple, low stress system.  Sows are farrowed in groups of four to a pen with individual farrowing huts and the piglets remain in these groups throughout their lives.  Ad lib hoppers containing grower ration are introduced into the pens so that piglets and sows all have access.  There is a natural tendency for a piglet to eat what mum eats.  We only use one grower ration from creep through weaning to finish.  At 8-10 weeks, depending on the size of the piglets, we wean by taking sows away from the piglets.  It is seamless, stress free and they don’t miss mum as much.  Nor she them, also important.

We have a simple, welfare friendly system which is natural and stress free.  Our pigs mature slowly and produce a little more fat which gives us better cooking quality and better taste.