Ross-shire residents can now enjoy bangers and mash with a difference now that an Alness couple's new business supplying quality wild boar meat is up and running.

Dougie and Vivian MacKenzie's tasty new venture, Highland Wild Boar, is co-ordinated from their home at Millcraig Mill and supplies meat products such as sausages, wild boar fillet, burgers, loin and leg roasts to local hotels, restaurants and the public. 

Since their launch at the Black Isle Show they have been encouraged by the uptake of their produce.  Vivian Mackenzie said:  "We hope to see wild boar meat on restaurant menus throughout the Highlands and have already received a number of orders.  An Inverness hotel has even invented a special recipe using our meat which will be included in Lady Claire Macdonald's next book, Scottish Highland Hospitality."

She continued: "We attracted a lot of interest at the Black Isle Show and we hope to repeat this with a stall at the Highland Food Festival this October.  The Farmers Market in Inverness will also give us a regular means of selling direct to the public and we are plan to supply wild boar hams, roasts and gift hampers in time for the Christmas market."

In line with the couple's business philosophy of staying close to nature in both management of the wild boar and land use, the boars are free range and breed and rear their young naturally. They are fed a natural cereal mix and they root for vegetation and insects in the fields surrounding the couple's house.

Their comical antics have proved to be quite an attraction for walkers and children in the area.  Mr Mackenzie said: "They are very hardy and intelligent animals, and live in family units with their own hierarchy.  They're not dangerous although the mothers are very protective towards their young.

"I've always wanted to have my own herd since my childhood where I lived near a farm which had a small number of boars.  We started with two animals and have been building up our stock for the last five years and now have around 200, enough to go into business.

"We have been supported by Ross & Cromarty Enterprise both financially and with business advice, which has been a great help."

Ross & Cromarty Enterprise has awarded a 50 per cent development grant towards the £13,600 project, which will be used towards the purchase of catering equipment and machinery.

Gordon Cox, RACE chief executive, said:  "Encouraging new businesses is a priority for us as it is the key to an area's future prosperity.  This is certainly an unusual project and we are pleased to be able to offer financial assistance and business start-up advice."