All-new housing and all-new pigs herald a bright future for this Aberdeenshire producer

摘要

With the help of grant aid, Scottish producer Sandy Howie has built an all-new pig unit. The staff love it, so do the pigs. The whole development is a credit to all concerned, reports Sam Walton...Farmers are notorious for not spending money. But when the expense is an investment, that's a different matter.Sandy Howie, who is chairman of Scottish Pig Producers and an excellent pig farmer, has taken what I think is rather a bold move. He has built what is practically an all-new pig unit on his farm at Mintlaw in Aberdeen.Before farming on his own account, Sandy was farm manager for the late Stephen Mackie, a gentleman if ever there was one.He is quick to relate how helpful Stephen was when he wanted to start on his own. He actually bought one of Stephen's pig units, as he could see the potential in it.This he ran on the Dalgety pig scheme from 1988 until 1991, when he was able to buy himself out of that contract at the same time as he moved to his present 200-acre holding.