Pig prices are doing 1.43c/kg to 1.48c/kg, with both of the Republic’s factories – Dawn and Stauntons – reported to have increased prices by 4c/kg for all suppliers last Friday. However, this was not the case for Rosderra, Kepak and Cookstown in Northern Ireland.

“There is huge frustration among suppliers following failure of these factories to increase prices. Reports are that trade has picked up, yet our biggest processor fails to reflect this in supplier prices,” said the IFA’s national pigs committee executive Deirdre O’Shea. Reports suggest increased demand for pigs and there are real signs of improvement in trade both domestically and on the export markets, O’Shea said, adding: “It is infuriating for farmers to see some processors absorbing this 4c/kg, particularly with cashflow so tight on farms.”

Meanwhile, 300 farmers from the European Pig Producers (EPP) organisation will attend the three-day event in Dublin this week to learn more on the Irish perspective of farming.

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Speakers

Speakers over the three days include Professor Paddy Wall of UCD, Jim O’Toole from Bord Bia and chair of the Irish branch of the EPP, Colin Marry. The conference takes place in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dublin.

Stay tuned to www.farmersjournal.ie for updates from the conference.