Our bijoux breeding stock comprises two pedigreed Gloucestershire Old Spot sows – Piper and Phoebe – and a Tamworth boar, Sonny. We bought the girls as weaners from a smallholding in Turriff (Hallowe’en 2005), while 18 month-old Sonny came from a local berry farm in May 2006.

Old Spots were traditionally kept on dairy farms and reared on windfall apples and whey. When crossed with the red-haired Tamworth, the two British rare breeds produce succulent, full-flavoured old-fashioned pork with a characteristic layer of fat – perfect for crackling!

The pigs and their litters forage and rootle in spacious enclosures near the farm steading; taking shelter in their thermal pig arcs when the weather is inclement and taking themselves for a wander around the farm when it’s fair.

Once the piglets are weaned at 8 weeks, they feast on a daily ‘porridge’ of creamy fresh milk mixed with bruised barley; their diet supplemented with seasonal vegetable peelings and windfall fruit. They are reared in the traditional way, allowed to mature slowly at their own natural rate.

In short, our sociable piggies have a lovely life. From their grassy paddocks, they even enjoy panoramic views of Ben Wyvis.