Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • July 2025
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • 2024 Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. July 2025
    2. June 2025
    3. 2025 Innovation supplement
    4. May 2025
    5. April 2025
    6. March 2025
    7. 2025 Buildings supplement
    8. February 2025
    9. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    10. January 2025
    11. December 2024
    12. November 2024
    13. 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    14. October 2024
    15. September 2024
    16. August 2024
    17. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    18. July 2024
    19. June 2024
    20. 2024 Innovation supplement
    21. 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    22. May 2024
    23. April 2024
    24. 2024 Buildings Supplement
    25. March 2024
    26. 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    27. February 2024
    28. January 2024
    29. December 2023
    30. November 2023
    31. 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    32. October 2023
    33. September 2023
    34. Health Supplement
    Featured

    July 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    July 6, 2025
    Recent

    July 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    July 6, 2025

    June 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    June 4, 2025

    2025 Innovation supplement now available

    June 4, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
Peter Crichton

Peter Crichton’s commentary for August 29, 2014

PW ReportersBy PW ReportersAugust 29, 20143 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

Although the DAPP lost 0.29p and now stands at 158.06p, as a rule, most spot prices have stayed at stand-on levels. Hopefully we may be nearing the end of the recent price decline, although the Russian import embargo is doing us no favours.

With contract space still tight, spot bacon buyers were able to pick and choose to some extent and although 150p remains a minimum base price, it was hard to persuade buyers to bid much more than this except for “regulars”.

It’s interesting to see, however, that the SPP (Standard Pig Price) and the DAPP are almost identical, but it’s still a bit of a puzzle why the SPP, which is only designed to reflect Standard Pigs, should be almost the same of the DAPP which is meant to include premiums and other payments paid to producers. It’s a funny old world.

Another negative facing the industry is a weakening euro, which traded on Friday worth 79.3p compared with 79.87p a week ago. However, the weakness of the euro had little effect on cull sow values, which remain at stand-on levels, with most abattoirs paying in the 92-94p/kg range according to spec, but sow prices are still awfull as 12 months ago we were getting 132p/kg, a differential of £60/head, but this helps to underline the weakness of EU mainland payment prices.

Another negative from the Russian embargo is the lack of other suitable outlets for fat (white meat), and as a result the value of the fifth quarter of the sow is under pressure as larger volumes go into cold store.

Weaner prices continue their roller-coaster ride, with the latest AHDB 30kg ex-farm average losing more than £4/head to stand at £51.24/head. 7kg weaner prices are also under pressure and now stand at £38.79/head. A shortage of rearing and finishing space is the culprit and, as a result, the weaner sector remains very much a buyers’ market, despite the availability of much cheaper feed ingredients.

Although Friday’s feed wheat quotes on the LIFFE market improved marginally with November quoted at £122.50/t and March at £127.50/t ex-farm, spot wheat prices are still under pressure with the latest UK average value quoted at £110.20/t. In the Eastern region, some farmers are having to take as little as £105/t for their wheat.

Looking further ahead, the grains market continues to be influenced by bearish trends following recent USDA reports of record wheat production levels.

The outlook for proteins also remains under pressure with hi-pro soya in East Anglia for August quoted at £330/t and rapeseed trading at £160/t.

And finally, well done to BPEX for all its hard work on the lorry wash survey earlier in the year, but with the threat of PEDv from the West and African Swine Fever from the East, pig producers at the moment will need eyes in the back of their heads. Once again, every effort should be made to try and persuade abattoirs to upgrade their washing and disinfection facilities where necessary, because livestock lorry biosecurity remains one of the weakest links in the pig heath chain.

> Based in Suffolk, Peter Crichton provides a wide range of valuation, auction and livestock marketing services, as well as supplying the UK pig industry with a wide range of consultancy services covering tenancy, contract advice, pig equipment and herd valuations as well as dispute resolution. For more information visit: www.petercrichton.co.uk

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleNormal working for 70% of meat plants during strike
Next Article Shock and disgust greets Irish pig price fall
PW Reporters

Read Similar Stories

This Will Be The Last Time (Peter Crichton’s final market update)

March 25, 2023

Pigs on the Wing

March 17, 2023

Good Vibrations

March 10, 2023
Latest News

ABN kicks off pioneering long-term mill project

July 11, 2025

Red Tractor to press ahead with new tiers for outdoor pig producers

July 10, 2025

Last chance to enter or nominate for 2025 National Pig Awards

July 10, 2025
Sponsored Content

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024

Tackle the root cause of PWD with free diagnostic tests

March 1, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Senior-Level Pig Stockperson – Ref 1760 Hampshire

    • Hampshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1759 North Yorkshire

    • North Yorkshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1758 Norfolk

    • Norfolk
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Weekly Tribune
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.