The Pigs

At the Woodland Pig Co. we’re really passionate about Pigs! We spend 365 days a year, wind, rain and shine, tending to our Saddleback's every need. With time and a personal touch, we get to know each pig; we know if they prefer a pat on the back or a scratch behind the ear.

The Saddleback Pigs of The Woodland Pig Co.

Who is Mr Wiggam?

We have 35 breeding gilts on our farm who share their time and space with our lead boar Mr Wiggam. We’ve grown our breeding program and now have young Henry, who shares his time with our two Lassie gilts and Silverwing sows.

Our Lassie gilts are registered pedigree Saddleback pigs. They are part of our conservation plan to bring new life into some of the rarest bloodlines left on the British Pig Association register.

The pigs welfare comes first

We are passionate about our pigs' welfare and don’t believe in overstocking to meet demand. We will never rear more than 250-500 pigs a year; this ensures we give our pigs the time and space to enjoy their lives on our farm.

Product labelling

Product labelling has long been problematic within UK supermarket chains; we hope we’re being clear with you.

All of our produce is 100% outdoor bred free-range British pork. When buying a pork leg, you obviously receive 100% pork; however, some sausages and other products do contain other ingredients, so please check the labels for guidelines on allergies and intolerances.

You can also find our herd mark highlighted within our labels, which gives you full traceability from farm to kitchen.

Ear tagging

Part of the traceability involves us tagging our pigs. This isn’t something we enjoy but is a legal requirement and underpins the traceability and guarantees we receive our pork back from processing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is bloodline conservation?

Saddleback pigs are native breed pigs and are a mix of the Wessex and Sussex saddleback breeds. On the rare breed of survival trust register, they are an ‘at risk’ breed. We support the British pig association in preserving these gentle giants, and we need to eat more native breed pork.

Why do we only produce saddleback pork?

Saddlebacks are registered as ‘at risk’, which means that there are fewer than 1000 left; these are made up of several tracked bloodlines. We try to focus as much of our efforts on targeting the bloodlines with the fewest numbers and then breed these lines. We then share the litters with other breeders across Britain, helping to continue the patronage of the bloodline.

How many pigs do we keep?

We keep between 250 and 500 pigs throughout the year. This ensures we can genuinely care for our pigs and give them the space they need to live happy, healthy lives!

Do you breed your own pigs?

Yes, we have an outdoor breeding program. Our breeding program supplies our free-range produce, but we also conserve rare bloodlines of the Saddleback breed. We currently have two boars and 16 sows.

What age do you separate your piglets from sows?

We ‘wean’ our piglets at eight weeks. Our sows farrow in groups but have access to individual arks. This allows the sows to share the care of their litters, ensures the mums are not over milked and allows piglets to benefit from the nutrition of the mother’s milk for as long as possible without causing stress to the sow.

How far do your pigs travel?

We have access to a vast array of land between Hook & Old Basing. Our pigs travel between sites in small groups. When it’s time for a pig to leave our farm, we only have to travel 8 miles to a small abattoir in Farnborough. It is vital that the pigs don't get stressed, and if the conditions aren’t right, we won't travel our pigs!