Pigs Council Report September 2024

1. Policy proposals for approval by National Council

N/A 

• Market Report 

When the last National Council report was submitted in May prices were as follows: 

Rosderra           €2.22 – 2.28c/kg

Kepak               €2.22 –2.28c/kg

Dawn P&B        €2.21 – 2.28c/kg

Staunton’s         €2.21 – 2.28c/kg

Sows                €1.72/kg

Today, as we approach come into the last weeks sale of pigs for August our average price is circa €2.34/kg following a 6c/kg decrease on Friday last (23^rd of August). There remains a wide range in available prices.

Rosderra           €2.33 – 2.38c/kg

Kepak               €2.33 –2.40c/kg

Dawn P&B        €2.33 – 2.40c/kg

Staunton’s         €2.32 – 2.35c/kg

Sows                €1.65/kg

Irish pig prices fell by 6c/kg on the 23^rd of August bringing the average price back to €2.34/kg including VAT. This is possibly a reflection of the weekly throughput back at levels of circa 65,000 pigs per week and cheaper EU meat available. The UK market is and has been adding much value to our Irish pig price over the past number of months. It is indeed a very important market for us here in Ireland. It seems as though there is likely more cheaper EU meat available for consumption in the UK which is likely putting pressure on prices too. Feed ingredient prices currently are much more attractive; Barley circa €218/tonne, Wheat €237/tonne, Soya €395-400/tonne, Maize €220/tonne. Compound feed cost for August according to Teagasc is €1.31/kg dead weight. While throughput has improved in the last quarter, demand continues to run ahead of supplies. Total throughput YTD is 1,971,384 which is marginally behind the corresponding period in 2023. Throughput for week ending 10 August, 2024, was 54,422, back almost 10,000 head from the week previous due to the impact of the bank holiday.The latest available data from the CSO shows that Irish exports of primary pigmeat products were valued at €243 million, 2% higher than the corresponding period in 2023.

The IFA Pigs Committee led by Chairman, Roy Gallie, are in engagements with factories, secondary processors, retailers, the foodservice sector and also within the channels of government procurement in an effort to try and ensure pig prices remain strong for producers. The official ‘average’ Irish price quoted by Bord Bia as of the 10^th of August 2024 was €2.30 excluding VAT. The average European pig price for the Grade E carcass was quoted as €2.10/ kg dead weight for the same week excluding VAT. 

Source: https://www.bordbia.ie/farmers-growers/prices-markets/pig-trade-prices/pigmeat-price-dashboard/

• Activity since last National Council
• IFA Pig Committee representatives are actively engaging with the Nitrates Division on the 4day export notification proposal from DAFM as this would be totally unworkable for pig farmers. 
• IFA Pig Committee members have been engaging intensively with processors and secondary processors to ensure price increases are delivered to farm gate prices and in a timely manner. 
• Ongoing engagement with the Department, Animal Health Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency, Meat Industry Ireland and Bord Bia.
• Engagements with the newly appointed Food Regulator, Niamh Lenahan, who we will be working closely with over the coming year. 
• Ongoing work with the DNA scheme and testing, in particular the foodservice sector, as we work toward ensuring as much Irish product as possible is utilised on home soil. 
• Meeting with retailers on specific issues relating to price, changes in production systems, sustainability, and viability of the sector. 
• Ongoing discussions with EPA on various issues, technical amendments online and IED. 

• EU/COPA developments
• We lobbied MEP’s hard via our Brussels office on proposed IED revised thresholds. The trialogue text resulted in a reduction of the thresholds for pigs and layers and left broilers at status quo and excluded bovines. We were successful in having 36 MEPs reject the text but unfortunately lost out on the Plenary vote by a small number of votes. We will now focus on ensuring at MS level that the transition is a workable one for all involved in pig farming and layer hens. 
• Last year the European Food Safety Authority released its recommendations for the welfare of pigs on farm. We are actively engaging with Copa-Cogeca to ensure that a strong position is held among farm organizations to lobby on these recommendations. 
• End of cages – presentation of study’s conclusions. Copa-Cogeca have conducted an impact assessment on the end of cages and the potential impact associated with the change for agriculture and associated transition periods. Should this come into immediate effect by 2025, it is expected that circa 37% of pork meat would cease and 3% of EU egg production would cease. 
• Engaging with COPA COGECA and at National level on the EUDR. 
• EU Horizon project – WelFarmers – IFA are partaking in an EU welfare project on pig welfare which is a 3-year project. We have secured funding from the EU to partake in this project and will be working closely with our Irish pig farmers and EU colleagues on this over the next 3 years. 

• Upcoming issues
• Engagement with DAFM on slurry exports – 4-day rule proposal by DAFM and establishment of an alternative method of reporting for pig farmers. 
• A reduction in the use of imported pigmeat in the foodservice sector is something the committee are eager to work on and see improvements in.
• Actively engaging and working to ensure fair price is being returned to producers.
• Engaging with Boar studs and Bord Bia on a Quality Assurance Scheme.  
• Engaging with the EPA regarding various issues including emissions. 
• Engaging with the Pig Health Check Implementation Group on the National Salmonella Control Programme and on the Biosecurity code of practice.