Panorama is based just outside of Neath and, as the name suggests, the views are panoramic overlooking Swansea bay and the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park. 

The Panorama Herd is owned by Chris Beck and his brother Bleddyn who also owns 3 flocks of pedigree sheep, Beltex, Southdown and Polled Dorset.  

Pigs were first kept on Panorama before the Second World War by the brothers’ Grandparents, who also kept some 2000 chickens. During the 1950's the pigs sadly left and were absent until 2005 when the brothers reintroduced them.

At first a selection of pigs from a spectrum of breeds were purchased as the boys sought to distinguish which pigs would be best for them. An old book of their grandparents with useful notes in the margin was invaluable in educating the boys in pig stockmanship.

They looked at how well the pigs grew, hardiness, docility, conformation and most importantly taste!

Once the first pigs where killed and joints were distributed to friends and family it was a unanimous decision that the Welsh pig was the tastiest and easiest breed to keep.

So it was that in late 2005 the first pedigree Welsh pigs arrived with the purchase of two gilts, Cranerow Aconite 3 and Cranerow Lioness 15 and shortly afterwards a pedigree boar Mountainhall Workman 15.

The herd has since expanded and currently stands at seven sows and one boar, but it is ever increasing and homebred replacements are added regularly.

This year Panorama Pedigree Welsh Pigs have been chosen as the UKTV Food Local Food Hero Welsh Champion by Gary Rhodes and Bryn Williams. This is a fantastic achievement for the boys as they were nominated for the award by their customers, then chosen to be champions of Wales by two of the UK's leading chefs. 

They have also just been nominated for The Observer Food Monthly Awards in the category of Best Producer by Food Critic Jay Rayner.
 
They are very proud to have been nominated for such prestigious awards.

This year, despite only attending two agricultural shows, the pigs managed to come away with some good results. In 2007 Bleddyn Beck was also awarded a Sainsbury’s Award for Agriculture.

The pigs are reared outdoors as much as possible, only coming in for the most severe weather. They live outdoors in straw stuffed arks and can enjoy rooting up to their hearts’ content.