The big pig-producing countries of Spain, Germany and Denmark all saw a lift in prices and the average EU price is over €1.80c/kg when compared with the Irish VAT inclusive price.

IFA pigs committee chair Tom Hogan, who farms 500 sows in partnership with his son Niall in Co Limerick, said it is not acceptable for Irish processors to accept Irish pigs to be produced at less than the EU average price.

All pig farmers took a 4c/kg price drop three weeks ago and the explanation given was a weakening of the international export markets

“Our costs of production are higher due to higher feed costs and with margins in the pigs farming sector so tight over the past 20 years, we cannot accept less than our EU counterparts.

“All pig farmers took a 4c/kg price drop three weeks ago and the explanation given was a weakening of the international export markets and similar price reductions in other EU countries. Factories must again follow suit and raise the price,” Hogan said.

Commenting on the current market, he said that many pig farmers have received unofficial increases. If you take into account this attempt to keep the price below the true market level, pig farmers should be receiving at least €1.80c/kg.