Pig business opportunity

18 February 2000

Pig business opportunity

By Louise Rose

HANFORDS decision to sell its Isowean pig business as a going concern brings about another 800 acres in Dorset on to the market.

The business is split across three farms producing 30,000 pigs/year. There is a premium contract with an international breeding company to supply about 10,000 breeding gilts each year and the balance of 20,000 pigs is grown on contract to bacon weight.

One of the farms, Thorncombe, was brought to the market last week, see Land & Farms, Feb 11.

However the remainder now is for sale and the main farming unit Bourne Farm, near Blandford, is guided at between 3.4m-4.2m for the whole by FPDSavills.

"This unit will have no problem with compliance issues, whether they are environmental, welfare, or health and safety," said the firms Rupert Montefiore.

It has the capacity for 1500 sows and a finishing unit. The majority of the land is arable capable of producing wheat yields in excess of 4t/acre and the farm buildings include some grain storage.

Lacking a main house it is feasible that under Planning Policy Guidance Note 7 planning provisions permission might be given for the construction of a new residence. As a separate lot the 500-acre farm is guided at over £1.1m with another 297 acres at East Farm, a dairy unit, valued at more than £725,000.

A farmhouse and eight cottages split between assured shorthold and protected tenancies are guided at about £1m.

Bourne business park, on 3 acres includes the former Hanford office headquarters and storage buildings, currently generates an annual rental income of £77,000 with the potential to increase these levels to around £114,000/year.