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
    • September 2025
    • August 2025
    • 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    • 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. September 2025
    2. August 2025
    3. 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    4. July 2025
    5. June 2025
    6. 2025 Innovation supplement
    7. May 2025
    8. April 2025
    9. March 2025
    10. 2025 Buildings supplement
    11. February 2025
    12. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    13. January 2025
    14. December 2024
    15. November 2024
    16. 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    17. October 2024
    18. September 2024
    19. August 2024
    20. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    21. July 2024
    22. June 2024
    23. 2024 Innovation supplement
    24. 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    25. May 2024
    26. April 2024
    27. 2024 Buildings Supplement
    28. March 2024
    29. 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    30. February 2024
    31. January 2024
    32. December 2023
    33. November 2023
    34. 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    35. October 2023
    36. September 2023
    37. Health Supplement
    Featured

    September 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    September 1, 2025
    Recent

    September 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    September 1, 2025

    August 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    August 1, 2025

    2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement now available

    August 1, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
Comment

Something In the Air

Peter CrichtonBy Peter CrichtonMarch 30, 20183 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

Despite the ‘two short weeks’ ahead, there is something of a more positive feeling in the air, with the influential German producer price thankfully standing on for the second week running, and no signs of any significant numbers of UK pigs being rolled.

The latest SPP was only up by 0.03p to stand at 145.37p but that’s better than going down, and weekly contribution prices tended to be up by 1-2p in the main, which is also encouraging.

The spot bacon market has remained quiet with most pigs being absorbed under contract, but where deals were done these tended to be around the 140p mark for Red Tractor baconers.

Cull sow prices were mainly unchanged nudging up towards the 70p mark, but are still well behind their value of 100p/kg (yes, really) this time a year ago when the Euro was actually weaker and was worth 85.6p, compared with its current value of 87.73p. But a recovery in UK cull sow price is long overdue and would also be a signal of better pig meat demand in Europe.

The latest AHDB 30kg weaner average has eased by 98p to £50.01/head but 7kg piglet prices are firmer to the tune of 78p and now the average stands at £38.01, but there is still a fairly wide gap between Freedom Food and Red Tractor values, with the former in relatively strong demand where space could be found.

On the feed front protein prices remain relatively firm with 48% soya traded ex-Liverpool in mid-March at £348/t and 34% rapemeal at £206/t.

The grain futures markets ended another relatively quiet week with London wheat traded at £142.35 for July and little change at £142.60 for November. Grain analysts are awaiting the release of the latest USDA crop data so now might be a good time for canny UK pig producers to keep a close eye on the market in case it starts to move in the wrong direction.

And finally, positive news from the NPA that the Red Tractor logo will be promoted in a series of national TV advertising for the first time in the scheme’s history.

On the basis that ‘you have got to give if you want to gather’, pig meat promotion is absolutely vital if the industry is to compete with other meats. Past campaigns, including pulled pork, midweek meal choices and pork medallions, have all proved that this is one sector where a positive effect can be achieved as far as demand for pig meat is concerned.

phil collins

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleSpotlight on welfare shines ever brighter
Next Article GB herds produced a extra pig per sow in 2017
Peter Crichton

Read Similar Stories

Comment: ‘I want agriculture to be valued as a growth sector’

September 5, 2025

Vet View: Managing heat stress in pigs

August 6, 2025

Comment: Was the move indoors the right decision for us?

August 4, 2025
Latest News

Comment: ‘I want agriculture to be valued as a growth sector’

September 5, 2025

Cranswick ‘disappointed’ after Environment Agency rejects permit for proposed Norfolk development

September 4, 2025

Nearly 50,000 pigs culled after African swine fever outbreaks in Latvia and Estonia

September 4, 2025
Sponsored Content

Enhancing Weaned Pig Health and Performance with Zinc and Iron

August 1, 2025

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

April 30, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1774 Aberdeenshire

    • Aberdeenshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1773 Aberdeenshire

    • Aberdeenshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Senior Pig Stockperson – Ref 1772 Aberdeenshire

    • Aberdeenshire
    • 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.