Northland Farmer Demonstrates Pigs in Paddocks
November 13, 2009
A Northland farmer is opening
his farm gate to the public to prove that pigs can be farmed
successfully outdoors.
Bert Borger, of Te Rata Family
Farm, raises heritage Tamworth pigs.
In May, comedian
Mike King and a film crew from TVNZ’s Sunday programme
broke into an indoor pig farm in which pigs were kept in
crates, sparking debate about the ethics of pig farming in
New Zealand, and the viability of farming them
outdoors.
Bert and his wife, Rebecca, operate one of
the country’s largest free-range egg farms, and have
recently moved into pigs.
A forester by training with
strong feelings about land management and the way in which
animals are kept, for Bert it is a bottom-line that the pigs
are farmed as naturally as possible – and that means
living outdoors their entire lives.
“There’s been
a lot of talk recently about what’s possible and what’s
not, and what free-range truly means,” he
said.
“That’s something that every farmer has to
address for himself or herself, but for me, keeping them
indoors at any stage of their lives – even for finishing
before they go to be processed – just isn’t on. I want
them to have as natural a life as possible.”
Te Rata
Family Farm is a 400-acre property at Paparoa, on the
Northern Kaipara Harbour, and in May featured on TVNZ’s
Country Calendar programme.
As well a pigs, the farm
features 9000 free-range organic hens, and cattle, sheep and
goats.
The pig operation is not certified organic due
to a national shortage of certified organic feed, but Bert
farms with organic practices and avoids using
chemicals.
The Borgers have their own butchery in
Paparoa, where sausages, bacon and hams are made, and also
supply pork to selected outlets in Auckland and
Northland.
The open day will be held on Saturday,
November 28, from 10am to 3.30pm. Admission is free but
visitors will be invited to make a donation to the Tearfund
Gift for Life Project (http://http://www.giftforlife.co.nz/gift/),
which provides training, basic materials, seeds and
livestock for farmers in developing countries.
Numbers
are limited, but another open day will be held in March.
Registration is at http://www.familyfarm.co.nz, and strong, clean
footwear is essential. The farm is in Porter Rd, which is
off the Paparoa-Oakleigh Rd. If travelling from Auckland,
turn left on to State Highway 12 at Brynderwyn and go
through Maungaturoto. As you come into Paparoa, turn right
on to the Oakleigh Rd. Porter Rd is the second road on the
left.
ENDS