A few months back, when it became apparent to me that my time with LSB pigs was going to come to an end, I found myself with an opportunity to just stop for a while, rest up and gather my thoughts.
In my career, these moments have not come along very often, so this was a real chance to decide how I would like to spend the rest of my working life.
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About the author
Rob McGregor
Rob McGregor has joint responsibility for the management of breeding sows, environmental projects and artificial insemination stud at family-run free-range pig producer NFL, which supplies high-welfare, sustainably produced pork to one of the country’s major retailers.
It will be no surprise to many that I wasn’t very long in my initial decision-making.
My love of farming, and livestock husbandry in particular, meant that staying directly involved in farm management at a primary producer level was a slam-dunk decision.
And it took me just about as little time to decide where and with whom I wanted to do this.
For a few years now, I have been rubber-necking through Norfolk hedges and peering across open fields at an increasing number of units owned and run by North Farm Livestock (NFL).
NFL is a family owned and family run farming company with which I could clearly see I shared many values.
Over the years, the company has built long-term partnerships with like-minded farmers and landowners to mutually benefit the businesses, farmland and the natural environment.
Their well-equipped, high-welfare outdoor sow units are spread across a wide swathe of Norfolk, and these are accompanied by equally impressive outdoor finishing farms.
Together they make a truly free-range operation. In all, more than 1,012ha (2,500 acres) of farmland are used to rear pigs to supply one of the country’s most trusted retailers.
Luckily for me, the company is expanding as the British public’s demand for sustainably produced, high-welfare meat increases.
I’m very pleased to have joined NFL at this time and look forward to reporting here on the progress we make.
A crucial part of this growth plan will require recruiting more skilled stockpeople and, equally importantly, farmers and landowners interested in having our pigs on their land.
To assist us with this, we will be exhibiting at agricultural events this summer, including at Groundswell next month, so please come and say hello if you can.
