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

Tiptoe through the Tulips

Peter CrichtonBy Peter CrichtonAugust 30, 20193 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

Apart from the recent announcement that Tulip, who are the UK’s biggest pork producers, has been sold to the Brazilian food giant Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, it has been a routine day with pig trading in the UK remaining at stand on levels in most cases.

The latest SPP slipped by .10p and now stands at 152.95p whereas the influential German price stood on at €1.85 which works out at the equivalent UK price of 168.5p, but the gap between European mainland and UK prices remains as wide as ever, although there are some signs emerging of a possible increase in the much criticised weekly contribution price system which has kept a lid on prices for far too long…we shall see.

Demand for spot pigs remains subdued with enough around to meet most requirements and prices have generally been in or around the 150p mark.

Cull sow prices have also held at similar levels, but shrewd sellers could haggle a penny or so in some cases with most export quotes in the 107-112p region according to load size.

Weaner prices are holding but lack of space remains a major problem in this sector with the latest AHDB 7kg average largely unchanged at £39.01/head and the 30kg average now stands at £53.17/head but unfortunately demand for weaners is still under pressure with buyers reluctant to put much money on the table despite further falls in feed costs.

As far as feed prices are concerned, UK cereal values are continuing to slide with the latest average ex farm spot wheat price quoted at £121/t which compares with £170/t 12 months ago. Vive le difference! Chicago wheat futures have continued to fall due to larger global stocks and tough export competition and our (soon to be former partners) in France will need to export around 20 million tons of wheat following a 15% increase in crop yields over the past 12 months.

Futures prices are also continuing to drop with October wheat quoted at £132/t and September 2020 at £141/t with barley traded for this October at £123/t.

UK protein prices have however generally held at similar levels with Hipro soya quoted for November-April ’20 at £308/t and for May-October ’20 at £311/t.

And finally, the big story of the week has been the surprise takeover of Tulip Limited who are the country’s largest pig producers, by the Brazilian based Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation who have signed up to buy Tulip lock stock and barrel which will create one of the largest prepared foods businesses in the UK.

The price is quoted £290m and the new owners are indicating further expansion will take place across the whole business model providing opportunities for integrated production systems and a strong financial base.

Whilst this acquisition will provide greater liquidity levels it remains to be seen to what extent this acquisition will benefit pig producers in the longer term but no doubt we shall see!

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleAHDB’s bolsters pork technical team
Next Article Last chance to apply for Defra grants
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.