There was extreme disappointment last Friday for suppliers of Irelands largest pig processor, Rosderra, with a 4c/kg cut for this week’s pigs, leaving Rosderra suppliers receiving 1.38c/kg.
There were no change in quotes from Dawn Pork & Bacon, Staunton’s or Kepak, but the 7,000 Republic of Ireland pigs which head North to Karro’s pig factory in Cookstown every week, also took a 4c/kg cut. This latest blow has left many despairing, as feed bills and credit were already stretched to overcapacity, with the hope that the pig price would recover to some degree of normality, or to be more correct, the margin over feed cost would start to head towards a level where pig production in Ireland looked to have some future. Sluggish meat markets, pork in particular are blamed for this lasts price drop, but it has left an industry struggling to survive, in a deeper crisis.
No change last Friday in quotes for pigs from Irish factories. Pig farmers continue to lose money at an unsustainable rate, with the gap between the prevailing pig price of €1.42c/kg and the ever-rising cost of production, getting close to 20c/kg. While the domestic Irish market has not shown much improvement in recent weeks, there is no build-up of pigment in cold storage. The change in seasons and the seasonal drop in temperatures will give rise to an increased demand for bacon sales, which did suffer during our unprecedented warm summer and autumn. African Swine Fever continues to be the major taking point and threat to the industry across the globe. Despite the lack of reporting from China, it is clear that ASF has, and will continue to lower domestic production in China.
