Pig farmers have called on processors Rosderra and Kepak to match 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, chair of the IFA Pigs Committee Roy Gallie has said.

“This is totally unacceptable given that the trend in the majority of EU markets and in the UK is steadily upwards,” Gallie said.

“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.”

Galling move

The IFA has said that Rosderra and Kepak have not increased their quoted pig price, resulting in an estimated discrepancy of €7/pig.

“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,” Gallie continued.

“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.”

The IFA has called on the processors to align their price with the rest of the country this Friday by a minimum of 8c/kg.