Rosderra and Kepak Falling Behind Market on Pig Prices

The Chairman of the IFA Pigs Committee Roy Gallie has called on pig processors Rosderra and Kepak to meet what others in the market are paying.

There is currently a price differential between the north of the country and the southern region of 8c/kg.

“This is totally unacceptable given that the trend in the majority of EU markets and in the UK is steadily upwards. It’s extremely important, not only for the pig farmer, but also for the trade to move upwards. The momentum has to be maintained when it is justified,” he said.

“Suppliers to both Dawn Pork & Bacon and Staunton’s, both pig factories based in the southern half of the country, who were already 4c/kg ahead of their northern counterparts, received a further 4c/kg increase this week.   This was justified and is badly needed to cover sharply increasing feed costs,” he said.

Rosderra and Kepak did not increase their quoted pig price, and this has resulted in the discrepancy of €7.00 per pig.

“It’s particularly galling when you read that yet another farm will be taken over this weekend by the processing industry. It would be better for all if the processors stuck to processing and paying a better price to the farmer, rather than investing in pig production themselves on the back of withholding overdue price increases,” he said.

“They have to align themselves with the rest of the country and raise the pig price this Friday by a minimum of 8 cent/kg,”