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

    August 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    August 1, 2025
    Recent

    August 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    August 1, 2025

    2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement now available

    August 1, 2025

    July 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    July 6, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
Comment

Stairway to Heaven…

Peter CrichtonBy Peter CrichtonMarch 31, 20173 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

Prices are continuing their remarkable rally which has seen the SPP rise from 112p to 151.7p over the past 12 months or so, with further increases forecast.

News that the German producer price announced on Thursday had risen by a massive 7 Euro cents helped to keep the bulls busy in the UK pig market, with no bears to be seen.

Spot quotes are now in or around the 160p mark, with light pigs worth in the 170p region, but as previously, very tight numbers of spot pigs were traded, with contract supplies short across the board, and this situation has also been reflected in the European mainland pigmeat market.

Weekly contribution prices also moved up by 2p across the board within a 152p – 160p range.

With the upcoming Easter holiday approaching, more demand will also add further upward pressure to prices and allow producers to continue to fill the black hole in their accounts over the previous 18 months or so.

Although the value of the Euro, which traded on Friday afternoon worth 85.6p is around 1% down on a week earlier, this did nothing to take the shine off cull sow prices which have also followed the upward track of European pigmeat values.

The two main export abattoirs prepared to pay between 100p – 104p in the main, but once again, ‘big is beautiful’, with large consignments able to command a premium.

Weaner prices continue to move ahead, with the latest AHDB 30kg average rising by £1.57 to £56.84/head and the 7kg average also moved up by £1.09 to £39.36/head. This average value looks set to break through the £40/head barrier soon.

As with finished pigs, spot prices are well ahead of contract, and rather like the story of the ‘tortoise and the hare’, contract prices still have a fair bit of catching up to do.

Quiet week

Cereal markets ended another relatively quiet week, with UK spot feed wheat averaging £144.50/t according to AHDB and futures prices a shade easier on the LIFFE market. May 2017 feed wheat was quoted at £147/t and November at £137.25/t.

Currently, UK protein prices have eased back slightly, with Brazilian 48% soya meal ex-Liverpool dropping from £333/t to £317/t over the past two weeks and 34% rapemeal ex-Kent losing £5/t to stand at £190/t on March 24.

It will be interesting to see what currency reactions will be to the Article 50 ‘I’m Out’ UK government letter to the European Council. For this reason there may be further volatility in the currency markets in the months ahead, which will also affect cereal markets one way or another.

And finally, the future of the pig industry will be significantly affected by the outcome of any trade deals the UK securesfor its post-Brexit future.

The glass-half-full brigade are hoping that the government can secure free trading agreements with the EU to ensure that UK pig producers are not disadvantaged by future trade deals outside the EU.

The glass-completely-empty brigade, however, fear that if we get a bad deal for pig producers, then more volatility will make it a problem to compete in an uncertain world.

More questions than answers, but as things are at present, ever since the June 23, 2016, Brexit result, most of the pig industry has walked with a slight spring in its step rather than a limp.

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleFarming organisations call for ‘fundamental’ post-Brexit regulation review
Next Article Have your say on antibiotic usage targets
Peter Crichton

Read Similar Stories

Vet View: Managing heat stress in pigs

August 6, 2025

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

August 4, 2025

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

July 9, 2025
Latest News

AHDB reports that English red meat sector contributed £5.5bn to UK economy in 2023

August 28, 2025

Morgan sisters’ Iron Will challenge

August 28, 2025

Government details how upcoming SPS agreement with the EU will benefit industry and consumers

August 28, 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 1752 Somerset

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

    • South East England
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1759 North Yorkshire

    • North Yorkshire
    • 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.