Pig market: 15/01/2018

Prices reported to IFA

Comment: The Irish pig sector is officially in crisis mode following the announcement last Friday from both Rosderra and Kepak of another 4c/kg price drop. Pig farmers supplying these factories are receiving prices of around €1.40c/kg this week. With the recent increase in feed prices, this leaves efficient pig producers losing approximately 10c/kg or €8/pig sent to the factory. Unfortunately, this is a situation the pig industry has faced before and resulted in the exiting of the sector by many pig farmers. Without an increase in the pig price, the number of viable pig farmers will reduce further. IFA pigs committee chair Tom Hogan called on all pig processors to reverse last week’s price reduction and return a viable pig price that allows pig farmers to remain in business.