Pig Price Cuts Must Be Reversed
Last Friday, pig farmers got very disappointing news of a 4c/kg cut in pig prices from most processors. Prices this week range from a low of €1.52c/kg up to an average of €1.54c/kg.
The usual variation and premiums above this exist for lighter, select pigs. This latest cut in the pig price is extremely disheartening for Irish pig producers. Having watched the EU price rise up to 10c/kg above the Irish pig price in June and July this year, now, when the continental trade is traditionally weaker, Irish prices are dragged down to match the seasonally depressed EU pig market.
IFA Pigs Chairman, Tom Hogan, called on the pig factories to reverse the latest cuts and pay a sustainable price for Irish pigs. “With a break even cost of production at €1.50c/kg, our industry is going nowhere when farmers are expected to take €1.52c/kg and invest in the future of the business”.
Ireland’s percentage of the EU price has improved and is currently 103% of the EU average price as reported to the EU Commission for the week commencing 23/10/2017.
Factory pig throughput in Republic of Ireland export plants for the week ending October 28th 2017 was 65,993 head which was 4,541 head more than the previous week and 3,391 more than in the corresponding week in 2016. Slaughterings in ROI export plants is 0.6% behind the same period in 2016.
Export Plants: Top prices on a flat rate basis </= €152-€154cent/kg in Dawn, Staunton’s Kepak and Rosderra and </= 156 cent/kg in Karro.
Sows: 95 – 110c/kg DW.
Weekly Slaughterings: Week-ending 28/10/2017 Pigs: 65,993 Sows: 2,056
EU-27 PIGMEAT REFERENCE PRICE WK COMMENCING 23/10/17
Irish price €1.54kg
EU–27 average price €1.49kg
(Grade E pigs – 55% to 60% lean meat excluding VAT but including transport and bonuses).
