Berkshire Breed Rep Election

Following the call for breed reps the Berkshire breed is in the fortunate position to have 3 applicants. This means we will need to have an election, the three applicants information is below.

The vote will be open until 15th Ocotober and the results will be announced shortly after along with the rest of the breed reps. Please follow the link to vote.

Chris Hudson

Most BPA members and breeders are familiar with my passion for pigs, and the conservation of British rare breeds and individual blood lines, which is complimented by my knowledge and enthusiasm.

I am a familiar face on the show circuit, taking time to chat with breeders and promote Berkshire pigs, to potential new breeders and members of the general public.

Having not kept pigs for a number of years, in 2007  the opportunity arose to move back into pigs as a hobby, rather than a business. Starting with the Berkshire, which remains my main focus, I now have British Landrace, and with my Granddaughter we have Large White which is part of the Junior Pig Club conservation programme.

My passion for the promotion, conservation, and development of the Berkshire breed, has developed into what could be called an obsession. Interaction with fellow Berkshire breeders and encouraging those new to keeping Berkshire is a key element for me, as this helps to increase overall Berkshire numbers, identify bloodlines which may be at risk and increase the number of Berkshire breeders. This is enhanced by being the chair of the Berkshire Pig Breeders Club.

I feel that links and interaction between Berkshires breeders, the breed representatives, and the BPA, are  vital to the continuing success of the Berkshire breed, in developing the skills and knowledge of breeders, and the promotion of Berkshire pork. In my role as breed rep I have encouraged, guided, and supported new breeders, answering any questions they may have, signposting them to additional information and breeders in their area who may be able to offer support.

Since being elected chair of the Berkshire pig Breeders Club, the club has moved forward and introduced new initiatives, this includes increased communication with members, information sharing and involving all member in club/breed initiatives. The club has recently begun work on the Berkshire Nucleus Herd, with two litters on the ground, this is in the preliminary stages, with much work still to be done. Being breed representative for the Berkshire breed will allow me (with the club), to reach out to more breeders, and hopefully they will engage with the project.

Having access to Grassroots and kinship allows me to analyse the breed survey results, birth notification and registrations, helping to identify which bloodlines need support both nationally and locally. This will help to ensure bloodlines are also distributed around the country, to ensure bloodlines are not lost, if there is an outbreak of disease.

This links closely with the club work on the nucleus herd.

The breed representative is the key link between breeders and the BPA, they should be visible, approachable, supportive and have the Berkshire breed and breeders at the centre of all they do.

As the Berkshire breed representative, I will continue to seek the views and ideas of breeders, feeding this information back to the BPA during meetings, however this is a two-way street, and I will ensure that information from the BPA is shared with breeders.

I am currently on: - The BPA show & conservation committees

                             - Committee of Staffordshire Winter Fair

                             - BPA Show representative at Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire County shows

Chris Impey

 My Name is Chris Impey and I keep a herd of Berkshire pigs in Tonyrefail in South Wales.I have been keeping, breeding, exporting and showing Berkshires for the last 35 years. My own herd the Fairoaks Herd has existed in my own name for the last 26 years.

During my time I have worked hard and diligently to preserve and promote the Berkshire Breed. I have travelled all over the country showing my pigs and helping new and experienced breeders. I Am an experienced all breeds judge and have previously served on the British Pig Association Board, on the conservation committee and am currently serving on the show Committee. I have previously been BPA chairman and have represented the organisation at many forums throughout the country.

I am passionate about looking after new breeders and am always available to mentor and support them through their own journeys to becoming experienced breeders themselves. I have breeders established in European countries with herds of Berkshire pigs of their own having exported pigs and delivered pigs to them. I have also exported pigs across the world demonstrating my commitment to spread and preserve the breed for generations to come.

My own personal passion is to promote the traditional type and characteristics of the Berkshire Breed, I am a strong advocate for preserving the type in the national herd whilst always promoting performance and growth to ensure the pigs are saleable and preserve their most valuable asset being the quality of the meet.

During my time as a breed representative I have sought to represent the views of the Berkshire breeders in all the meetings I have been into. I do not put my own interests ahead of others and am known for my fairness and integrity. I listen to people and negotiate and support when necessary. I speak out when required and I will continue to do so for the benefit of the breed and its breeders.

Due to my employment within the civil service I have many transferrable skills that are of use to the role of the Breed Rep role and the wider organisation.

I have been instrumental in maintaining a social media presence for the Berkshire Pig Breeders club and served on its committee for many, many years.

I seek to represent the Berkshire breed in all avenues and opportunities I find myself in.

I am committed to the Berkshire breed and I feel I can represent it effectively as I have already done previously.

Daniel Perkin

 I’m applying for the role of Berkshire Breed Representative because I care deeply about this wonderful breed and the people who work with it. Although I’m still fairly new to pig breeding, Berkshires have become a big part of my life, and I feel I can bring both enthusiasm and a clear vision for the future. I’m committed to breeding, promoting, and protecting the long-term health of the Berkshire and to making sure it continues to have a strong and sustainable future.

My journey with Berkshires has moved quickly, but with real purpose. From the start, I’ve been struck by the breed’s heritage, character, and potential, and I’ve put my energy into learning as much as I can while building up my herd. In 2025, I was proud to be named a finalist in the New Pedigree Pig Breeder of the Year Award. That recognition was encouraging, but more importantly it gave me the chance to see how many different directions breeders are coming from—whether that’s conservation, meat production, showing, or simply running a sustainable smallholding. I believe my strength lies in understanding these different perspectives and in representing everyone fairly, so that all Berkshire breeders feel included and supported.

One of the things I care about most is genetic diversity. A wide genetic base is the key to keeping Berkshires fertile, hardy, and true to type. Without it, we run the risk of narrowing bloodlines and losing the qualities that make the breed so special. Genetic spread also matters hugely if we ever face a local or national disease outbreak—having bloodlines that are well distributed across different herds means we’re far less likely to lose whole lines or weaken the breed as a whole. Protecting that diversity is about safeguarding the Berkshire for the long term, not just for today.

I believe the best way to do this is by working together. No single breeder can carry the breed on their own, but by sharing knowledge, supporting one another, and making thoughtful breeding choices, we can all play our part. As a representative, I would encourage breeders to look at underused lines, think about the bigger picture, and feel confident in reaching out for advice or collaboration. I’d also work to create a stronger sense of community, where ideas are shared openly and everyone—whether just starting out or with years of experience—feels that their voice matters.

I have the time, energy, and determination to do this role well. If elected, I’d be proud to represent Berkshire breeders of all kinds, and to play my part in ensuring the breed continues to thrive—stronger, more diverse, and more valued for the future.

Thank you for considering my application.