Pig prices are unchanged this week with farmers receiving €1.64c/kg to €1.68c/kg. Prices in Germany, the EU’s largest producer, have fallen by 19c/kg in the past two weeks, mainly due to COVID-19 disruption.

According to IFA pigs chair Tom Hogan, meat plants in mainland Europe remain hotspots of infection.

“This has created an artificial backlog of factory-ready pigs on the market entirely due to the reduced capacity to process these pigs.

“While there is no risk of transfer of COVID-19 in any meat products, the ongoing issues surrounding meat plants across Europe is not helping demand.”

Irish prices have fallen eight times since the start of the year, with the cuts now totalling 32c/kg.