Mike Durrant of Bunns Farm, Norfolk, has been named the Farmers Weekly Awards 2025 Pig Farmer of the Year. He picked up his award at a ceremony attended by 1,200 people in London on Thursday night.
Coming from a non-farming background, he runs more than 1,700 outdoor sows across two sites, supplying pigs under contract to BQP.
His main unit, relocated to the Worstead Estate in 2024, is home to just over 900 sows on a five-week, all-in all-out breeding system. A second site in west Norfolk, purchased this year, added a further 800 sows, giving Mike scope to scale performance and develop staff while keeping high standards consistent.
He uses Landrace-cross-Duroc-cross-Large White genetics, employing 10 staff. The herd is Red Tractor and RSPCA-assured
Strong performance
The herd averages 29 pigs weaned a sow a year, with recent farrowings producing 14.1 born alive and 12.7 weaned per litter, weaning weights of 9.5kg at five weeks, and mortality at consistently less than 10%.
Genetics are Rattlerow-derived, selected for growth and durability, while ABN provides feed through BQP.
Farrowing huts are bucket-fed daily (via quad bike or UTV) to maintain appetite and close observation, while ad-lib trial feeders are reducing labour and diesel use.
Mike employs a close-knit team, blending family members and new entrants to farming. Roles are clearly defined, and training is systematic, covering standard operating procedures, first aid, injection and humane culling. A flexible rota and open communication keep morale high and retention strong.
“Healthy, stress-free pigs perform better. And the same applies to staff – if people feel valued, they put more into the job,” he said.
Environmental care and innovation
Mike personally moved the equipment 90 miles over four months to establish the site at the Worstead Estate.
Grass cover is maintained through reseeding and harrowing, buffer strips are in place, and bee and pollinator mixes surround the radial service paddocks.
Working with The Rivers Trust, he has mapped water flow and adjusted layouts to reduce run-off risk. Simple sprinklers and pig shades help keep sows cool while cutting tractor movements for wallow filling.
His longer-term aim is to transition the second site onto the five-week, all-in, all-out system.
What the judges say
“Mike is a highly skilled pigman who has built a resilient, well-performing business with clear vision for the future. His units are efficient, welfare-focused and forward-looking.
“He is an excellent ambassador for the British pig sector.”
The other finalists
- Chris Fogden, Bridge Cottage, Suffolk
- Stephen and Karen Thompson, Povey Farm, Derbyshire