Being a mechanic would have been pits for award-winning pig man

ANDREW FREEMANTLE was more determined to become a fourth generation farmer than his father was that he should not.

His father thought Andrew would have a better chance in life following a different trade and urged him to become a mechanic.

But the farming ‘gene’ was just too strong and, within six months of leaving school and joining a garage, Andrew quit to start work on a neighbouring farm before signing up for a three year agricultural diploma course at Bicton College.

And such is the single mindedness and focus of this exceptional young man, still only 34, that he now runs four farm-related businesses from his Clyst St Mary, near Exeter, base, and was recently runner-up in the national final of the NFU's 2004 young farmer of the year excellence award.

The foundations for his farming philosophy were laid down during a couple of years in the early nineties when he worked on an outdoor pig farm.

“I enjoyed this very much” he says. “The production methods appealed to me as the pigs were so content out in the fields and I found it very rewarding producing pig meat from a system that let the sows exhibit natural behaviour and lead fulfilling lives.

“From these early days as a livestock farmer, I made a personal pledge that whatever farming I was involved in, the welfare of the animals would be of paramount importance.''

After a brief ‘gap’ travelling in Australia and Indonesia, Andrew, the immediate past chairman of the NFU's Exeter branch, came home to get to grips with converting the ex-dairy unit his father had bought to raise beef into a fully-fledged pig farm.

The unit is a hybrid of outdoor and straw-based indoor. They farrow the sows indoors in individual pens, not crates, then, during their dry period, the sows can go outdoors and graze stubble turnips. The farm's heavy soil precludes a permanent outdoor system, so Andrew combined the best of both worlds. They market around 4,000 pigs through Thames Valley Cambac, plus a percentage they market themselves.

The businesses include a farm shop at the home farm and another at a nearby small rented holding where there's also a campsite and livery, and farmers' market trading at Ottery St Mary, Exeter and Exmouth - Andrew's favourite which he helped set-up with another young farmer, Steven Slade.

Hog roasting is his real piece de resistance and it all started when he got married in May 2000 where one of his own pigs was cooked for the evening reception.

Everybody commented on the taste and succulence and demand mushroomed with over 1000 catered for last year alone. Discerning diners include Lord Whitty, Terry Waite and even our own Anthony Gibson.

In fact, last year saw 700 pigs marketed direct to the public in one way or another and the butcher who prepares Andrew's pork has had to take on another employee to keep up with demand.

“I am proud that, with the dedication and hard work of my family and staff we now have a dynamic, go-ahead business and that we have done this in a very welfare friendly way,” says Andrew.

We enjoy taking people around the farm and showing them the pigs so they can see for themselves that we produce them to the highest possible welfare standards and do so profitably.''

Anyone wishing to visit Andrew's farm and/or taste his excellent pork products can contact him on 01392 875938 or mobile 07974 652460.

We will continue our profiles of excellence award winners in the South West next month.

Publication:  NFU Magazine
Publication date: May 2004