Irish pig farmers are dealing with a backlog in cull sows due to a coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent closure of the Tönnies Group meat plant in Germany.

The carcases of up to 50% of sows killed in Ireland are sent to Germany for processing into products such as frankfurters and salami. The factory was closed due to an outbreak of COVID-19, with 1,500 of the 7,000 workers at the plant testing positive for the virus.

German authorities in the region have imposed the first local lockdown in the country on the region. The outbreak also partly caused the country’s virus reproduction (R) number to jump to 2.88.

It is further bad news for farmers who have seen the price drop from €1.10/kg to 62c/kg for cull sows since the start of the pandemic

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has repeatedly said that the R number needs to remain below one to combat the virus successfully.

Some pig farmers in Ireland are understood to have had factories cancel loads of cull sows, adding to pressure for space on farms.

It is further bad news for farmers who have seen the price drop from €1.10/kg to 62c/kg for cull sows since the start of the pandemic.

However, many are hopeful that the carcases can be redirected to Poland or Hungary for processing within the next week.

Virus outbreaks

In the UK, Welsh authorities have not ruled out a local lockdown on the Isle of Anglesey after 158 workers tested positive for COVID-19 in a 2 Sisters poultry plant. The plant has been closed temporarily and all 560 workers have been told to self-isolate.

An Asda plant in west Yorkshire has also closed following an outbreak where up to 150 workers are believed to have tested positive for the virus.

Ireland has seen its lowest weekly rise of coronavirus cases among meat workers since reporting started, with just two cases, bringing the overall number to 1,104.

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