October 19, 2020

Holygate Farm ventures into pig farming

Holygate Farm at Stapleford, England is set to expand with the addition of a pig finishing enterprise to diversify its business and add to the arable farming, which currently takes place over 3,000 acres of fields, Melton Times reports.

The farm, which is operated by Lord John Gretton and Lady Jennifer Gretton, will add two linked livestock structures to provide accommodation for some 4,000 pigs from an initial weight of 35 kilogrammes to 110 kg, and an associated slurry store.

According to the farm's planning report a pig finishing enterprise was chosen for diversification as this compliments and adds to the sustainability of the existing arable farming operations.

The report further stated, "Cereal crops produced on the arable side of the business will be used as a feed stock for the pig finishing unit and slurry produced by the pig unit will be used as a natural fertiliser for the arable cropping and reduce reliance on imported slurry and manures".

Holygate Farm currently buys around 14,000 cubic metres of pig slurry fertiliser each year, and with the new development, fertilizer can be produced on site.

Planning permission has been granted by the Melton Borough Council, while an environmental permit for the project has been approved by the Environment Agency, as per report.