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

Spring is in the air

Peter CrichtonBy Peter CrichtonFebruary 2, 20184 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

The news that the influential German pig producer price had risen by 3 cents helped to put a spring into the step of UK pig producers.

Having watched this key price decline almost continuously since last June, it was good to see it heading north rather than south, and hopefully this is more of a trend than a one off price correction… we shall see.

Unfortunately the SPP took a fairly major downward step this week however, dropping by 1.42p to 146.83p. It is worth remembering, however, that EU mainland pig meat prices are way below this level with the European average of little more than 111p/kg which is still letting in large volumes of much cheaper imported pig meat to undercut our market.

‘Stand on’ seemed to be the main trading pattern today with most factory contribution prices staying at similar levels (apart for one dropping, tut tut). The same applies to a scattering of spot pigs and spot bacon prices were reported to be in the 132-136p range with demand still fragile.

A slightly weaker pound helped put up the value of the Euro a shade over the past 7 days, trading on Friday worth 87.8p compared with 87.32p a week ago. A combination of the currency movement as well as an improvement in German pig prices encouraged UK cull sow export abattoirs to put up their prices in the region of 2p/kg, with most now trading in the 62-64p bracket which is still way below their value of 94p/kg 12 months ago.

Weaner prices have continued their recent roller coaster ride, with the 30kg ex farm average dropping by £1.39/head to £51.70 and 7kg piglets also slipped by £1.23 to £36.65.

One feature of the weaner market has been the significant premium being paid for Freedom Food standard weaners compared with Red Tractor. The differential seems to be getting wider and wider with one off spot loads of Red Tractor pigs hard to place but plenty of potential customers for Freedom Foods, and in some cases gaps of more than £5/head have opened up between these two categories.

The grain market ended another quiet and uneventful week with little variation in UK cereal values where the latest average ex farm spot wheat price is quoted at £136/t.

Looking further afield, grain analysts are pointing to another year of an increasing surplus in global wheat stocks and availability, although reports of the onset of dry weather in the US could soon put a bull into this particular china shop.

UK protein prices have remained at generally similar levels with 48% soya meal traded ex-Liverpool at £312/t and 34% rape meal ex-Erith at £171/t.

And finally, the Brexit timetable draws nearer by the day. Good to know that the NPA have been busy setting out their Brexit proposals and priorities in meetings with DEFRA.

Trade remains a key priority and the ongoing need for our industry to have free access throughout the EU for cull sows as well as critical export markets. There is also a strong case for ensuring that imported pig meat from within and beyond the EU matches the same welfare standards as our domestic product and no doubt this is something that the NPA will be emphasising in their discussions with government bodies.

Ever since stalls and tethers were outlawed in the UK, we have been at a financial disadvantage and we must try and learn from this to ensure that we come out of these Brexit negotiations without being too battered and bruised – or it will be another case of short term gain being replaced by long term pain.

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleFrom South Africa with a fresh perspective on pigs
Next Article NPA welcomes appointment of first UK Trade Commissioner for China
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

New government food strategy a welcome step, but must be backed by pragmatic policy – NFU

July 18, 2025

AHDB to explore retail trends and consumer perceptions of farming at October conference

July 17, 2025

GB pig prices for week ending July 12, 2025 – SPP continues to inch up

July 16, 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 1763 Scotland

    • Scotland
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Senior Piggery Stockpersons – Ref 1762 Western Australia

    • Western Australia
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Assistant Pig Farm Manager – Ref 1761 Leicestershire

    • Leicestershire
    • 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.