The pre-Christmas trade boosted last week’s pig kill to a 2017 record of 76,000hd in what would be considered a good year for pig farmers.

Pig prices for the year to date have averaged €1.62/kg, IFA pig chair Tom Hogan has said.

“In the last few weeks, the price has fallen as low as €1.44/kg, which is below the breakeven price of €1.50/kg.

“Prospects for the first quarter of 2018 are poor enough but the second half of the year looks more encouraging.

“Prices won’t be as good next year, between supply and demand and the Chinese market.”

Last week’s pig kill of 76,000 pigs was helped by fewer pigs going to Northern Ireland, Hogan said. Whereas around 9,000 pigs would have moved north a number of years ago, this fell to between 6,000 and 7,000 in 2017.

Zinc oxide

Meanwhile, new rules from Europe are to phase out zinc oxide, a key additive in piglet feed used to combat diarrhoea, within five years.

“It will be a major change. We feel we might be forced to use more antibiotics to combat it or else change their diet structure or look at other breeds,” Hogan said.