Eight pig producers shortlisted for new RSPCA Assured awards

RSPCA Assured has announced a shortlist for its first-ever awards for pig and poultry members.

The shortlist of 18 overall includes eight people from the pig industry, with the winners to be decided by a judging panel that includes NPA chief executive Zoe Davies:

• Mark Jagger - BQP, Suffolk
• Kirsty Rose - Stockcroft, Oxfordshire
• Hristo Petkov - Mutimer Partnership, Norfolk
• Sean King - LKL Farming, Lincolnshire
• Ben Thompsett – Norfolk
• Callum Weir – formerly of Wimpole Home Farm, Cambridgeshire
• Cameron Naughton – West End Farm, Wiltshire
• Mark Knop – Drovers Hill Farm, Buckinghamshire

You can read more about the finalists HERE

The RSPCA Assured awards are designed to recognise and reward pig, broiler, laying hen and turkey members for achievements in four categories:

• Excellence in higher farm animal welfare - going above and beyond the standards and/or expectations to help improve farm animal welfare

• Excellence in the education of farm animal welfare - being proactive in engaging and educating others about higher farm animal welfare

• Excellence in sustainability and higher farm animal welfare - demonstrating consistent dedication to caring for the environment and animals in general through sustainability efforts

• Outstanding contribution - to pig and poultry welfare

Forty-three nominations were made by RSPCA Assured assessors and RSPCA farm livestock officers, who carry out member assessments and monitoring visits respectively, to ensure standards are met. 

These nominations were whittled down to a shortlist by RSPCA staff. The final eight winners will be decided by an independent panel made up of David Main, professor of production, animal health and welfare at the Royal Agriculture University at Cirencester, Zoe and Andrew Joret, chair of BEIC. . 

The final winners of this year’s RSPCA Assured Pig and Poultry Awards will now be announced during the week commencing 20 September, via the scheme’s website and social media platforms.