Wigborough Traditional Meats

About us

We are a family run farm just outside Colchester and have been keeping stock at Garr House Farm for over 35 years. Since August 2000 we have been successfully retailing meat directly to the public through Wigborough Traditional Meats. Our farming is sustainable with a low carbon footprint and welfare friendly.

All pigs, lambs and calves are born and raised on this farm. We have had a suckler beef herd since 2007 using Angus bulls. The ewes are bought in as shearlings from Wales or home bred.

Our Pigs

The pigs are housed on straw in large pens, the main ingredients of their rations, which we home mix, are locally grown wheat and barley. They are Large White x Landrace and we breed all our own replacement stock.

Our Sheep

The sheep lamb indoors at the end of March then graze outdoors, the lambs being 'finished' on home grown barley.

Our Suckler Beef Herd

The calves are born and reared here and fathered by an Aberdeen Angus bull. They are grass fed outdoors, coming indoors for winter and calving. The cows are a mixture of breeds including; Hereford, Charolais, Red Poll and Angus cross.

The Team

Taken in August 2016, from left to right starting with the back row. Son in law Dave Abbott ( married Rosie October 2015 ) and works part time as a car mechanic and also on the farm especially on various workshop constructions.

Phil Gladwin - farm partner with main farm responsibility.

Phil Pratt - stockman and general farm worker joined us in January 2016.

Bobby Karpinski - farm partner looking after the farrowing houses.

Kate Gladwin - farm partner responsible for Wigborough Traditional Meats.

Bob Goodall - head stockman since 1994.

Poppy - Fox red labrador, founding member of Bretongarr Kennel, pictured on vermin duty.