Every now and then a news story comes along that makes people question the entire pork industry. This week’s footage of pigs kept in dark pens, sows locked in crates, and piglets born into metal systems with no sunlight has upset a lot of people. Understandably.
A customer emailed asking if our pork is raised like that.
The short answer: no - not even close.
We Don’t Farm Pigs Ourselves Anymore
Years ago, we raised pigs ourselves here at Woodys. Some of you will remember the early blog posts: the pig arks, the fencing battles, the floods that floated huts away, the whole chaotic learning curve. It was honest, proper free-range farming.
But the economics of running our own pig farm simply weren’t viable long-term. We made the call to stop farming and focus on processing, charcuterie and distribution. The values stayed the same. The pigs needed to come from somewhere that cared as much as we did.
Where Our Pork Comes From Now
We work with Highgrounds Farm, a proper free-range outdoor farm that raises pigs the way free-range is meant to be done:
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outdoors from birth
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proper huts and paddocks
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sunlight, wind, mud, and natural behaviour
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no farrowing crates
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no dark sheds
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no confinement systems
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no industrial-style intensive farming
Highgrounds is transparent about how they farm, pigs outdoors, real paddocks, real weather, real farming.
It’s the same philosophy we built Woodys on — just at their place now, not ours.
About the Government Delays
You may also have seen the government has pushed the new pig-welfare rules back ten years. The delay is political. A part of the pork industry simply doesn’t want to modernise or invest in better systems.
The changes themselves are basic more space, limiting crates, letting animals move. Highgrounds already exceed those standards, as we did when we farmed ourselves.
The law isn’t what sets our welfare level.
Our values do.
Why We Choose Outdoor Free-Range
Outdoor pigs are healthier, calmer, and grow the way pigs are meant to grow. The meat is better. The stress is lower. The whole system is more honest.
When we stopped farming ourselves, the priority was simple: find a farm that does it right.
If you’re worried after seeing the news, you’re right to be. But that footage isn’t our supply chain.
A Note to Customers
If you buy Woodys pork, the pigs were raised outdoors in free-range conditions by people who actually care about welfare.
Not in crates.
Not in concrete boxes.
Not under artificial lights 24/7.
Not the systems shown on the news.
If you want to know more, ask. We’ll always be straight with you.
— Daniel, Woodys Free Range
