Breeding pigs for quality (From Gazette & Herald)

Breeding pigs for quality

DOZENS of butchers were at the York Livestock Centre recently for a special summer fatstock show.

Only the best cattle and pigs were on display - as buyers battled to beat the gavel and put them on display in their shops. The special event, organised by auctioneer Richard Tasker, was to promote the local trade.

In the pigs category, champions came from Colin Piercy, who farms near Easingwold. They were sold at £1.12 per kilo - an impressive return given that more average stock is usually sold at about 85p per kilo.

Colin was rightly proud. He sold his first pig at five years old. Leaving school, he had 15 sows. He has been in the pig trade his whole life.

He said: "We breed for a very high quality pig, because that's what the butchers want. They want something that's better than the norm.

"It gives me a great thrill to produce such high quality animals. I am quite chuffed about having the supreme champions. It's what we are here for."

Updated: 12:31 Wednesday, June 30, 2004