ACMC will supply 1,660 ACMC’s AC1 gilts from its high-health multiplication unit in Scotland over the next 12 months. Once the stock is integrated, and in full production it will have the capability of producing more 35,000 finished pigs annually.

The AC1, containing Chinese Meishan genes, is renowned for its prolificacy, although, Bowes were also impressed by the breed’s growth efficiency and carcase quality, traits that can be managed on both indoor and outdoor units.

"We had been looking at ACMC stock coming into our plant and were impressed with the lean carcases and good shape for a heavyweight pig, so we looked at on-farm production figures,” commented Charles Bowes, director of pigs.

Bowes of Norfolk, is an integrated pig business with its headquarters at Watton. It farms 4,000 acres and employs over 700 people and processes around 10,500 pigs a week. It also supplies pork products to major retailers including Tesco and produces four ranges sold under the ‘Finest’, ‘Outdoor Bred’, ‘Standard’ and ‘Value’ labels. It also exports pigmeat products to Europe, Russia, South Africa and the Far East.