Pig farmers suppling Ireland’s largest pig processor, Rosderra were left extremely disappointed following a 4c/kg cut to prices. Rosderra suppliers are now receiving €1.38/kg.

There is no change in the €1.42/kg being quoted by Dawn Pork and Bacon, Staunton’s or Kepak. However, Cookstown in Northern Ireland, which takes 7,000 pigs from the south, cut quotes by 4c/kg to €1.38c/kg. Ireland’s pig prices are currently 102% of the EU price average.

Total despair

The latest Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) pig price report said the blow had left many “in total despair”. The report said there had been hopes that margins would recover and head to a level “where pig production in Ireland looked to have some future”.

It said feed bills and credit for many were already stretched to over capacity.

Sluggish meat markets, for pork in particular, were blamed for the latest price drop. IFA said the cuts will push an industry struggling to survive into a deeper crisis.

Factory throughput in Ireland’s export plants has increased on last week, up 13,898 head to 67,177 head. This week’s slaughter is also 13,233 head higher than the corresponding week in 2017.