Stars of the Show!

Bath-based smallholder, Stuart Jones, is a hobby breeder of British Saddlebacks and has recently won accolades at prestigious national shows including the Bath and West Show and the Royal Isle of Wight County Show. Here, Stuart shares his advice for creating the best foundations to raise healthy prizewinning Saddlebacks.

- Stuart Jones

Stuart started pig breeding six years ago after attending a show and selecting the pedigree Saddleback as his breed of choice. Stuart comments: ‘They have a very striking look with their distinctive black body and white saddle which includes both fore legs. I knew this was the breed for me and I now have six sows producing around 140 piglets a year.’

Stuart and his son Elliott select the best examples of the breed from their litters each year which they then put forward to show. ‘Faith’ is this year’s star gilt (young female pig) having recently been crowned class champion at both the Royal Isle of Wight County Show and in the January class at the Bath and West. And for the first time, Stuart entered one of his Sows with ‘Eve’ being crowned Champion Sow at the Royal Isle of Wight County Show.