The SAOS Next Generation Award has been given to a pair who stepped in after the Brechin abattoir fire to keep the Scottish pig herd from collapse.

Peter Duthie and John Taylor, who work in the Huntly office of the Scottish Pig Producers, have been recognised for their efforts after Scotland’s largest pig processor went on fire in 2017.

The two had to find immediate alternatives for more than 80,000 pigs in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland or the sector would have ground to a halt.

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Andy McGowan. CEO of Scottish Pig Producers, said: “They had to grapple with regulations on drivers’ hours, limited haulage capacity, processor breakdowns, veterinary inspections and numerous other challenges.

"At one stage, they both went out to help a member tag and load pigs at 4am because of last-minute changes.

"Each successive problem was absorbed with professionalism and dark humour, with members commenting that they wouldn’t have realised Brechin was shut as the impact on them was minimal thanks to the SPP team.

In the meantime, Peter also ensured that the Northern Ireland members were not neglected and the NI throughput continues to go strongly.”

Again last year they found logistical solutions when Brechin had to close for a fortnight due to a CO2 shortage.

“This was met with little more than a bit of cursing before solutions were found again,” said McGowan.

Previous winners of the award are Rory Christie, chair of the Milk Suppliers Association and now an SAOS board member, and Kate Drever, who since her win two years ago has been promoted to the position of general manager of Aberdeen Grain.