A FARMER has applied to launch a pig rearing unit which will produce more than 2,000 animals per year.

Stuart Goulding of E&L Goulding and Son wants to set up the operation at the 275-acre Timber Hill Farm in Dymock.

The application sent to Forest of Dean planners proposes a 60m by 15m agricultural building catering for up to 950 pigs at a time as part of a move to diversify production on the farm.

Piglets will be brought on site at 28 days old and reared for 20 weeks before leaving, with Mr Goulding proposing to process 2.2 batches per year.

The farm currently caters for 550 cattle and agent Ian Pick says the pig rearing proposal "is not intensive".

Manure will be retained on the site and used as fertiliser on arable fields, he added.