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
Comment

Roller Coaster

Peter CrichtonBy Peter CrichtonMarch 22, 20203 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

As the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic start to bite on a global basis, there have been winners and losers as far as pig prices are concerned.

Although the SPP only moved up by 0.17 to stand at 163.22p, German producer prices are reported to have fallen by 7 cents. But at the same time, UK spot prices are soaring as retailers look to re-stock empty shelves.

Although the catering industry has virtually fallen off a cliff, signs are emerging that more consumers will be eating at home and this appears to have increased demand for all red meats across the board.

Spot prices have surged ahead with reports of deals being done in the 170-175p bracket and possibly more for one or two processors whose chillers are virtually bare.

Disappointingly at the time of preparing this report, most weekly contribution prices have remained at similar levels, between 155p-163p despite the additional assistance of a stronger Euro which traded on Friday worth 90.83p compared with 89.07p 7 days earlier.

Despite the 7-cent fall in German pig prices, thanks to the currency fluctuations, cull sow quotes have moved up by around 1p with most traded between 120p-125p according to load size.

However, with Easter on the horizon just over two weeks away, producers would be well advised to keep on top of their culls and slaughter weight pigs.

Weaner prices have eased back to some extent from last week’s quotes, with the latest AHDB 7kg ex-farm average quoted at £42.25/head, but no new quotation has yet been issued for 30kg weaners which last week averaged £61.95/head.

Despite the prospect of reasonably firm finished pig prices in the weeks ahead, a shortage of rearing and finishing space is still putting downward pressure on this sector.

Feed prices remain volatile mainly due to currency fluctuations, with the result that UK feed wheat futures prices for April have risen again to stand at £166/t with September even dearer at £174/t.

The same upward trend is reflected in barley quotes with April at £139/t and September at £147/t.

UK ex-farm feed wheat spot prices are also continuing to rise, quoted at £150.30/t.

Protein prices have taken an even bigger upward step, with UK Hipro soya quoted for April delivery at £366/t and for November/April 2021 at £329/t.

And finally, one possible benefit of the coronavirus epidemic is that, although many catering establishments have either closed or are operating at well below capacity, orders for catering meat have collapsed with the benefit being passed to the retailers and fresh meat customers looking to eat at home.

The other side of the coin are the fears that abattoirs, hauliers and meat processors may become short staffed if workplace employee levels continue to rise in the weeks ahead.

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleRed Tractor suspends ‘physical’ inspections due to coronavirus
Next Article Higher prices see Q4 2019 pig margins soar – but coronavirus uncertainty clouds outlook
Peter Crichton

Read Similar Stories

Comment: British pork reimagined: Data-led marketing for a changing consumer

July 9, 2025

Comment: Market recovery, export growth and on-farm innovation

July 7, 2025

Comment: Encouraging signs as big pig issues discussed in parliament

July 4, 2025
Latest News

GB pig prices for week ending July 5, 2025 – SPP bounces back to reach year high

July 9, 2025

Nutrient Action Programme could destroy NI pig sector, UFU warns

July 9, 2025

Comment: British pork reimagined: Data-led marketing for a changing consumer

July 9, 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
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1759 North Yorkshire

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

    • Norfolk
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Experienced Pig Stockperson – Ref 1757 South East England

    • South East England
    • 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.