Mike Durrant of Bunns Farm, Norfolk, has been named the Farmers Weekly Awards 2025 Pig Farmer of the Yr. He picked up his award at a ceremony attended by 1,200 folks in London on Thursday night time.
Coming from a non-farming background, he runs greater than 1,700 out of doors sows throughout two websites, supplying pigs underneath contract to BQP.
His primary unit, relocated to the Worstead Property in 2024, is residence to simply over 900 sows on a five-week, all-in all-out breeding system. A second website in west Norfolk, bought this 12 months, added an extra 800 sows, giving Mike scope to scale efficiency and develop workers whereas retaining excessive requirements constant.
He makes use of Landrace-cross-Duroc-cross-Massive White genetics, using 10 workers. The herd is Pink Tractor and RSPCA-assured
Robust efficiency
The herd averages 29 pigs weaned a sow a 12 months, with latest farrowings producing 14.1 born alive and 12.7 weaned per litter, weaning weights of 9.5kg at 5 weeks, and mortality at constantly lower than 10%.
Genetics are Rattlerow-derived, chosen for progress and sturdiness, whereas ABN gives feed by BQP.
Farrowing huts are bucket-fed every day (through quad bike or UTV) to take care of urge for food and shut remark, whereas ad-lib trial feeders are decreasing labour and diesel use.
Mike employs a close-knit group, mixing members of the family and new entrants to farming. Roles are clearly outlined, and coaching is systematic, masking commonplace working procedures, first help, injection and humane culling. A versatile rota and open communication maintain morale excessive and retention sturdy.
“Wholesome, stress-free pigs carry out higher. And the identical applies to workers – if folks really feel valued, they put extra into the job,” he stated.
Environmental care and innovation
Mike personally moved the gear 90 miles over 4 months to determine the location on the Worstead Property.
Grass cowl is maintained by reseeding and harrowing, buffer strips are in place, and bee and pollinator mixes encompass the radial service paddocks.
Working with The Rivers Belief, he has mapped water circulate and adjusted layouts to cut back run-off danger. Easy sprinklers and pig shades assist maintain sows cool whereas reducing tractor actions for wallow filling.
His longer-term goal is to transition the second website onto the five-week, all-in, all-out system.
What the judges say
“Mike is a extremely expert pigman who has constructed a resilient, well-performing enterprise with clear imaginative and prescient for the longer term. His models are environment friendly, welfare-focused and forward-looking.
“He is a superb ambassador for the British pig sector.”
The opposite finalists
- Chris Fogden, Bridge Cottage, Suffolk
- Stephen and Karen Thompson, Povey Farm, Derbyshire
