Farm Manager of the Year

We are thrilled to announce our BQP farming partner, Rob McGregor of LSB Pigs, has won Farm Manager of the Year 2022 at the prestigious Farmer Weekly Awards.

Rob has devoted his career to the outdoor pig sector and his influence has improved welfare and efficiency way beyond the two outdoor herds he manages in Norfolk. The herds rear weaners for BQP finishers, which in turn supply Waitrose and premium ranges at other retailers and food manufacturers.

As well as running the two sites with a team of eight, Rob’s responsibilities include financial planning and investment, in conjunction with the owner of LSB Pigs.

Barney Kay, Agriculture MD, was delighted to hear the good news and said: “We are all very happy for Rob’s achievements to be recognised by this prestigious award. To have yet another BQP farmer recognised, as Farm Manager of the Year, proves how well the BQP model is working and what can be achieved by this unique partnership. I also want to congratulate all the other winners and finalists across the industry, including Lizzy Murrell, BQP farmer, for being shortlisted as Pig Farmer of the Year.”

Rob is on a constant mission to improve – pioneering new production methods has been a key part of his work, including the introduction of individual farrowing paddocks, batch farrowing and artificial insemination techniques. After being proven at LSB, several of these have become industry-wide innovations.

Products adopted throughout the country and overseas include heat-reflective coatings for steel arks, single-piece plastic farrowing arks, clean water drinking tanks and rounded-top plastic farrowing fenders. The single most significant innovation has been clean water tanks, reducing waste and raising intake due to better water quality.

Rob added: “The changes we have seen in physical performance of the animals since the introduction of these drinkers have been outstanding. I am delighted with this award which highlights all my hard work and dedication towards my job and my pigs. I also want to thank the BQP team for their support which has gone a long way.”

BQP owns the pigs and provides the feed, haulage, vet costs and expert guidance – with LSB Pigs providing the land, labour, straw, machinery and equipment.

Farmers Weekly’s farming awards celebrate the best of British agriculture by recognising hard-working and innovative farmers across the UK. You can read through all the winners and learn more here.