Mike Durrant, of Bunns Farm in Worstead, near North Walsham, was crowned the Pig Farmer of the Year at the national Farmers Weekly Awards 2025.

Awards judges said his "resilient, forward-looking business" has sound technical performance, a strong team culture, a "welfare-first mindset" working with vets and animal nutritionists, and an environmental focus on soil health, water management and biodiversity.

Mr Durrant runs more than 1,700 outdoor sows across two sites in Norfolk, supplying pigs under contract to BQP.

His main unit, relocated from East Harling to the Worstead Estate in 2024, is home to 900 sows on a five-week, "all-in all-out" breeding system. A second site at Mileham was purchased this year, adding a further 800 sows.

Some of Mike Durrant's piglets at Worstead (Image: Denise Bradley)

He said an infectious passion for his work has driven the progress which is now being recognised with awards honours.

"It gives you a feelgood factor, I am not going to lie about that," he said. "It is just nice for someone to look at what you are doing and say you are doing a good job, all the hard work and effort.

........

© Eastern Daily Press