After many years of providing weekly Friday market commentary, industry auctioneer, commentator and general all-round legend Peter Crichton has announced that today’s will be his last report – thanks for everything Peter!
The SPP continues its record-breaking price run, up by another 1.12p to 212.53p, further underlining a dramatic shortage of pigs throughout the whole supply chain.
EU prices are also reflecting this trend with the German producer price up 5 cents to 2.33 EUR and the gap between UK and EU pig meat prices continues to shrink.
UK weekly contribution prices are also mainly on the move up by 1p – 2p from a base of 2.12p. As far as spot bacon pigs are concerned, the shelves are virtually empty. At the bottom end of the weight range fresh meat buyers will need to be thinking in terms of 225p/kg, and for heavier bacon pigs in and around 220p/kg to tempt producers to find any extra pigs.
Cull Sows
Cull sow prices continue to shoot up in value with heavy types worth £200/head or more, and lighter loads around £175/head.
The Euro closed today at 88.71p compared with 87.7p seven days ago which has encouraged exporters to go hunting for more sows to fill their wagons.
Weaners
The EU and UK wide shortage of pigs continues to get greater throughout the supply chain from the cradle to the grave.
As a result weaner prices carry on rising and for those buyers and sellers yet more money will have to be put on the table, with contract prices for 7kg RSPCA Assured piglets in some cases well over £55/head and they could soon hit the £60/head mark. 30kg spot weaners have been nudging up to £80/head with a touch more in places.
Feed Market Trends
Following on from the latest extension of the Black Sea corridor, old crop grain and protein prices have continue to slide with the latest UK spot feed wheat weekly average price falling sharply to £181/t ex farm.
This trend is highlighted by old crop feed wheat deals for April delivery at £203/t compared with new crop wheat for September at £214/t.
Old crop feed barley traded at £185/t for April and new crop deals were agreed at £198/t for September.
Protein prices have also fallen in value with Hipro soya for April delivery at £495/t and rapemeal for April delivery at £320/t.
The old rule of thumb of a tonne of wheat being worth less in pounds than bacon pigs in pence per kg is helping to put a smile on pig farmers’ faces.
And finally…
On the basis that nothing lasts forever and in the words of the song, sadly the time has come for me to say goodbye to my weekly pig commentary due to a combination of advancing years and health challenges, and this will be my last pig commentary.
I know that many of you have found my weekly commentary helpful providing pig farmers and allied trades with an up to date weekly summary of the health (or otherwise) of our industry and I will greatly miss all your feedback.
As we send my weekly commentary out to approximately 400 people each week, it is impossible to contact you all individually but please be assured that all your input has been valued, so a big thank you to you all for your assistance over the years.
My extra thanks to all those who have provided me with invaluable pig price data (you know who you are!).
At least our industry is hopefully back in better financial health after recent torrid times for all concerned, but it is a pity that so many have been forced to close down their farms.
To those who have somehow been able to hang on in there, well done and keep it up!
