 Hamlet's good looks have impressed judges at a series of farm shows |
A pedigree pig which was adopted by a BBC Wales radio show to highlight food production has been spared the chop. Hamlet, a seven-month-old Tamworth, had been destined for the butcher's hook despite becoming a celebrity thanks to the Jamie and Louise programme. But after becoming a prize winning pig, he has become too valuable to kill and is now going to be a stud boar. "It's almost like he started off being a pauper and he turns into a prince," said his breeder, Liz Shankland. Hamlet became something of a media star after rubbing shoulders with BBC Wales presenters Jamie Owen and Louise Elliott when he was still a piglet. More than 100 people signed up to his Facebook page and a fan set up a website, Save Hamlet's Bacon, to campaign for him to escape the slaughterhouse. But it seems Hamlet's good looks as a pedigree porker have done the job in any case. His success at impressing judges at agricultural shows has led to being offered a new home as the cornerstone of a pedigree herd at a country estate in the south of England. Ms Shankland, who has reared him "free range" on her smallholding at Bedwas, near Caerphilly, said a couple approached her at the Royal Welsh Show to talk about acquiring a breeding boar and ended up making an offer on Hamlet. She said: "I selected him as a good eating pig but he was good enough to register. I thought it would be a bit of fun for Jamie and Louise to show him at shows. He's a nice little pig. "They showed him at the Royal Welsh Smallholder Festival in May, where he got a third.  Jamie Owen and Louise Elliott were learning about food production |
"Then at the Royal Bath & West two weeks later he got a second, and at the Three Counties Show in Malvern in June he got a first and male breed champion. "This week, at the Royal Welsh, he got another first and reserve male champion. "I've had a very good offer for him, so he'll be sold in September, when he completes his showing season at the Royal County of Berkshire Show in Newbury." She said the demands of attending and displaying at country shows had made Hamlet highly sociable with people. "He is the most chilled pig I've ever met in my life. "He is so laid back you would not believe it. He has a lovely nature about him. Because I've been been showing him he's become used to being around people. "He loves having his belly rubbed and his blanket bath every day. He will come and snuggle up to you and lie across your lap." Progress Ms Shankland is starting the process again with two more litters but said she hoped Hamlet would keep in touch through his Facebook page to let her know when his first litter is born. Louise Elliott said she was delighted to learn of Hamlet's new life of luxury. "I've learned such a lot from following Hamlet's progress from birth, as I've seen first-hand just how important a naturally reared, free-range life is for animals. "I'm chuffed he's going to live a long an happy life, and will eventually bring many more little Hamlets into the world."
| 
One-Minute World News 
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
He is the most chilled pig I've ever met in my life
BBC News
Bookmark with:
What are these?