The 2022 National Pig Awards are now open for entries, with the winners once again to be unveiled at an awards ceremony in London, in November.
The awards, now in their ninth year, will continue to showcase the very best that the British pig industry has to offer – even in the most difficult year in living memory for producers across the country.
The award categories will have a familiar look, covering pig production and rearing, stockmanship, unit management, pedigree breeding, training, marketing, innovation and animal care.
There will be the usual strong focus on the pig farmers and vets of the future, while the important allied sector will again be recognised in a public vote.
The main award, Overall Pig Producer of the Year, won last year by Norfolk outdoor producer LSB Pigs, is again sponsored by principal sponsor ForFarmers and will be split into Indoor and Outdoor categories.
The 2022 categories
- PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – Sponsored by ForFarmers
- INDOOR PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – Sponsored by ForFarmers
- OUTDOOR PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – Sponsored by ForFarmers
- FINISHER OF THE YEAR – Sponsored by HIPRA
- HERD PRODUCTIVITY AWARD – Sponsored by Huvepharma
- INNOVATION OF THE YEAR – Sponsored by Ceva
- MARKETING INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
- NPA ALLIED INDUSTRY MEMBER OF THE YEAR (public vote)
- PEDIGREE BREEDER OF THE YEAR
- SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR
- STOCKPERSON OF THE YEAR
- TRAINEE OF THE YEAR – Sponsored by Rattlerow Farms
- UNIT MANAGER OF THE YEAR – Sponsored by PIC
- YOUNG FARM VET OF THE YEAR – Sponsored by Zoetis
- YOUNG PIG FARMER OF THE YEAR – Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim
Different approach
Stewart Houston will chair our expert panel of respected industry judges – and he stressed that the judges will adopt a different approach this year, in recognition of the challenges producers have been facing, both in terms of the backlog and the financial situation.
“We realise we are going to receive different types of entries this year – and we will have to rely less on some of the usual criteria we have used in the past, particularly the numerical data,” he said.
“But we still want to recognise and reward our industry champions – and excellence and innovation come in many forms, especially during a crisis. So we will also be looking at other criteria, such as how producers, managers, stockpeople and vets have coped by implementing contingency plans, how staff have been managed and motivated and what other steps have been taken to support your own businesses and the wider industry.
“We know some of you might think you haven’t got much to shout about this year, but very often it is in adversity that people set themselves apart. That has always been true of this sector. So, please, don’t be put off from entering – it could give your team the boost it deserves!”
Gala dinner
The awards night will feature a sparkling champagne reception and gala dinner, with a special guest presenter, bringing the industry together for its biggest night of
the year.
Pig World publisher Simon Lewis said: “This has been an incredibly tough year – the most difficult many within the industry have ever experienced.
“But, in some ways, we feel it is more important than ever to bring everyone to together and recognise the incredible efforts in the face of adversity made over the past year on so many farms. We are confident that, with all that resilience, the British pig industry is still set for a bright future.
“If ever there was a year that all those connected to pig production deserved an award, this is it! So, we look forward to seeing you in November.”
David Black and Chris Brant Awards
Alongside the National Pig Awards, the prestigious David Black and Chris Brant Awards will once again be presented on the night.
Last year, Yorkshire pig vet Duncan Berkshire was a popular winner of the NPA’s Chris Brant Award, reflecting the work he has done behind the scenes to support the pig sector and his articulate media performances during the pig crisis.
Former UK Chief Veterinary Officer Professor Jim Scudamore received the David Black Award from Lord Benyon, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at Defra, in recognition of his invaluable contribution to the pig industry over the past 20 years.