FREE RANGE, GM FREE, HUMANELY KILLED and not ORGANIC

I am often asked about the differences between Organic pig production and the way in which I produce my pigs. The organic movement has increased public awareness of how animals and crops are farmed. This is a good thing. However, contrary to some public opinion, Organic farmers do not have a monopoly over good humane animal production, neither are they required to purchase all their inputs from organic sources. I produce pigs giving absolute priority to their welfare. Additionally, I ensure that the pig’s diet is of the very highest quality, is safe, traceable and nutritious.

Organic does not insist on free range. All my pigs enjoy a free range life. They are born outside and live their entire lives outside in fields. I use a local EC approved abattoir that is regularly monitored by The Humane Slaughter Association for best practice. Organic does not specify breed. We use specific breeds of pig that are able to withstand the rigorous out door life and that also confer fantastic advantages on the pork quality.

We have designed safe traceable pig diets that provide excellent nutrition for our pigs and which also enhance meat quality. To do this successfully, we need to select our GM free feed ingredients such as wheat, barley and soya from a broad selection of raw materials. Problematically, the choice and availability of organic raw materials is too limited. The narrow selection of organic feedstuffs would compromise our high standard of flavoursome, succulent pork that we are recognised for.

The largest dietary input is water. Organic pigs do not drink organic water. We provide clean water from the mains and from wells to ensure good health. In summer we pump masses of water into wallows. The pigs love to roll in the wallows covering themselves in mud. This protects them from sun burn.

Pigs like to eat large amounts of their straw bedding whilst searching for beetles and also to provide extra roughage in their diet. Organic farmers are not required to purchase organic straw for bedding. I ensure that plentiful quantities of locally grown clean straw from conventional farming methods are made available for the well being of the pigs.

Sustainable agriculture is an important concept but not exclusive to organic farming. When you purchase Plantation Pork from your specialist butcher you are supporting local regional farming that has a real impact on the number of food miles involved in the production of the meat.

My farming method has developed over the years. I know what keeps an animal content and healthy. I know which feedstuffs benefit the animal and also which benefit the pork. Organic is a great marketing label but little else. Plantation Pigs is a system of farming driven by a desire to meet the challenging demands of animal welfare and the connoisseur’s pallet.

Hugh Norris, Managing Director

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