An indoor Dorset pig farm that has delivered phenomenal production figures, underpinned by a focus on pig husbandry, has been crowned the 2024 National Pig Awards Pig Producer of the Year.
Crockway Farms, managed by Martin Atkin, is an exceptional unit with more than 3,000 sows, producing 2,500 piglets a week, which are reared on site until 35kg.
It has a staff of 22 dedicated and hard-working individuals, who, targeting the top 10% performance in Europe, have consistently produced more than 39 pigs weaned per sow per year, with more than 16 piglets weaned per litter.
Its industry-leading figures are founded, according to Martin, on the attention to detail and quality of pig husbandry throughout the system, with a big emphasis on welfare, combined with the Danish genetics they use and carefully targeted diets that are milled on site.
The team received the prestigious award at an awards ceremony in London on Monday night, brilliantly hosted by comedian Ben Hanlin and attended by more than 400 people from across the pig industry.
Crockway was also named Indoor Pig Producer of the Year, winning the top award after going head-to-head with the Outdoor Pig Producer of the Year, R&C Mellor.
There was another award for the unit, when head of farrowing, Clementine Milton, was named Young Pig Farmer of the Year. She leads a team of eight in the farrowing house, and has played a huge part in the delivering the high performance figures and excellent and health and welfare standards, including implementing real-time technology for recording performance and antibiotic usage.
And there was further success for the business when the Finisher of the Year award went to Bob Helingoe, who operates an 8,000-place finishing farm for Crockway Farms in Somerset. The unit achieved an impressive average daily weight gain (ADWG) of 1,092g/day, with a finishing feed conversion rate (FCR) of 2.38.
Judge’s comment
National Pig Awards head judge, Stewart Houston, said: “Crockway Farms was an outstanding winner, a really well-run business, achieving eye-catching performance figures, thanks to a highly-motivated and effective staff who put pig husbandry first.
“This was another excellent year for entries. Congratulations all our winners on the night – and well done to all the finalists for getting this far.
“These awards are all about highlighting good practice and, hopefully inspiring others to greater things – all our winners have certainly done that!”
Outdoor winner
The Outdoor Pig Producer of the Year, R&C Mellor, won the Overall Pig Producer of the Year award in 2017 and picked up the Herd Productivity Award in 2020 and 2021.
Richard Mellor and his daughter Charlotte now run two outdoor units in Norfolk, both supplying five-week weaned piglets into BQP finishing farms. They average around 28 pigs per sow per year and have made huge strides in improving water quality on the farm and improving biosecurity, including developing a portable wheel wash station for the farm entrance.
Clarkson’s Ring earns innovation award
The best-known winner on the night, however, was Jeremy Clarkson, who was delighted to pick up the Innovation of the Year Award for the Clarkson’s Ring, his solution to seeing too many piglets crushed during the first litters at the hit Amazon TV series’ Oxfordshire farm.
Developed by Con-Tented Products, the easy-to-install ring has been proven to protect piglets and significantly reduce piglet mortality at Diddly Squat and in trials undertaken in larger commercial settings.
The extra space in Con-Tented’s largest arks, due to improved insulation, and the circular shape mean the rings have been far more successful than bars tried in farrowing huts a few decades ago.
The judges believe the innovation has the potential to make a real long-term difference to outdoor pig production.
OTHER WINNERS
HERD PRODUCTIVITY AWARD – Harper Adams
The 230-sow indoor pig unit, run by Matt Swaine, in Shropshire, has averaged more than 34 pigs weaned per sow per year, with more than 16 born alive per litter. The commercial unit, which is also used as a teaching and research facility, produces robust piglets, averaging 35kg.
MARKETING INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR – Porktober, Scottish Pig Producers & Scottish Craft Butchers
Porktober is a concerted ‘Buy Scottish’ drive throughout October, led by the country’s craft butchers, which was launched two years ago to support Scotland’s struggling pig producers. Last year, it helped boost sales during a usually sluggish period.
PEDIGREE BREEDER OF THE YEAR – Robbie Neill, Stonebridge Herd
This award was judged by the British Pig Association. Robbie, from County Down in Northern Ireland, impressed with the innovative, sustainable system he has developed. After starting in 2017 with one Oxford Sandy and Black sow, the Stonebridge herd has grown to over 100 pigs, including British Saddlebacks and Berkshires
NPA ALLIED INDUSTRY MEMBER OF THE YEAR – Con-Tented Products
In the only award decided by a public vote, Con-Tented Products came out top from a shortlist of six, nominated by the NPA. They are makers of, among other things, the Aardvark and Armadillo outdoor farrowing huts and Clarkson’s Ring.
SUSTAINABLE FARMING AWARD – FJ Bosworth & Sons
Sustainability is at the heart of everything this indoor pig business in Essex, run by father and son, Stuart and Jack, does. This includes strict control of inputs, feeding pigs home-grown grain and undertaking an emissions audit to demonstrate their good work.
STOCKPERSON OF THE YEAR – Emma Shields, Glenmarshal Sires
Emma works on a family-run indoor unit in Northern Ireland that includes a new two-storey farrowing house. She describes herself as a perfectionist and impressed the judges with her passion and eye for detail. She has increased the average number of piglets weaned per sow from 11.2 to 14 since she joined.
TRAINEE OF THE YEAR – Toni Bagguley, BQP
Toni grew up on a pig farm in Nottinghamshire and worked for BQP during her placement year at Harper Adams University, before returning to BQP as an Agricultural Trainee in September with a fields team. Over the next 18 months, she will be working on various projects and undertaking a wide range of training.
UNIT MANAGER OF THE YEAR – Fred Allen, Allen Farms (Coddington)
Fred and his team have achieved excellent results at the Nottinghamshire pig unit he manages, despite the challenges of combining indoor and outdoor production. He works hard to empower and motivate the team, with a big focus on reducing their carbon footprint.
YOUNG FARM VET OF THE YEAR – Joseph Lunt, Swinco
In his current role with pig industry consultants Swinco, Joseph is completing a Masters in animal nutrition, while also working as a veterinary consultant for private clients. He has delivered impressive pig health and performance benefits for clients, while also getting in stockperson training and lecturing on pig husbandry.
2024 National Pig Award winners – the full list
- OVERALL PIG PRODUCER OF THE YEAR Sponsored by ForFarmers – Crockway Farms
- INDOOR PRODUCER OF THE YEAR Sponsored by ForFarmers – Crockway Farms
- OUTDOOR PRODUCER OF THE YEAR Sponsored by ForFarmers – R & C Mellor
- FINISHER OF THE YEAR – Bob Helingoe, Crockway Farms
- HERD PRODUCTIVITY AWARD Sponsored by Huvepharma – Harper Adams University
- INNOVATION OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Ceva – Clarkson’s Farm
- MARKETING INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR – Porktober, Scottish Pig Producers & Scottish Craft Butchers
- NPA ALLIED INDUSTRY MEMBER OF THE YEAR Public Vote – Con-Tented Products
- PEDIGREE BREEDER OF THE YEAR – Robbie Neill, Stonebridge Herd
- STOCKPERSON OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Co-op – Emma Shields, Glenmarshal Sires
- SUSTAINABLE FARMING AWARD Sponsored by Elanco – FJ Bosworth & Sons
- TRAINEE OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Rattlerow Farms Toni Bagguley, BQP
- UNIT MANAGER OF THE YEAR- Fred Allen, Allen Farms (Coddington)
- YOUNG FARM VET OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Zoetis – Joseph Lunt, Swinco
- YOUNG PIG FARMER OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim – Clementine Milton, Crockway Farms
Other awards
- NPA Chris Brant Award – Tim Miller, ARM Buildings
- David Black Award Sponsored by AHDB – Howard Revell
Picture credits: Jamie Hodgskin