Welsh Pig Farmers Launch Co-op to Add Value to Local Pork
Red Dragon Porc: Welsh Pig Farmers Unite to Boost Local Pork Value
A new co-operative, Red Dragon Porc Cyf, has been established by eight pig farmers from Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire in partnership with Fishguard-based butcher and meat processor Martyn Lloyd. This initiative aims to enhance the value of locally produced pork by reducing food miles, improving animal welfare, and increasing producer margins.
The collaboration was facilitated by Farming Connect’s Agrisgôp programme, which brings together farmers to develop business ideas and build confidence through action learning. The co-operative allows pork from herds born and reared within the region to be processed at a new low-throughput abattoir on the Lloyds’ farm at Cilshafe, significantly reducing transportation distances and stress on the animals.
Martyn Lloyd, who had struggled to source low food miles pork for his customers, saw the development of the abattoir as a solution. “We could get beef and lamb and we have our own poultry, but what we were missing was pork. We did our best to find Welsh pork for customers, but that pork came with a lot of food miles, and that doesn’t fit with our business ethos,” he explained.
The co-operative has already seen success, marketing £43,000 worth of pork by the end of 2024, including award-winning sausages at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair. The new abattoir has created four full-time jobs, with potential for more as sales grow.
Will Kerr, one of the co-operative members, noted the benefits of the collaboration. “As a group, we are more powerful. It gives us many advantages, and we are already getting a better price for our pigs,” he said. Kerr, who runs six Welsh pig breeding sows alongside beef and sheep enterprises, had previously faced challenges in marketing his pork individually.
Another member, Ed Walker, who produces around 600 pigs a year on an outdoor system at his 46-acre Model Farm near Tenby, highlighted the value of collective marketing. “As eight producers, we are on a par with commercial farmers as we can offer consistency of supply, but we are still individual small producers too,” he said.
Red Dragon Porc Cyf is now accepting new members and plans to expand to other areas over the next few years. The co-operative meets regularly, fostering collaboration and shared values among its members.
Original source: Wales247