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

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025
    Recent

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025

    April 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    April 4, 2025

    March 2025 issue of Pig World now available

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

We Gotta Get Out Of This Place

Peter CrichtonBy Peter CrichtonJuly 3, 20213 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

Although the SPP put on another 0.58p this week to stand at 157.57p, signs are emerging that prices seem to be heading for a plateau rather than continuing to climb the price staircase.

German prices have in the main stood on at 1.48 EUR and the value of the Euro is also unchanged trading at 85.9p on Friday.

Weekly contribution prices look as though they will also be holding their ground and are between 146p and 163p, depending on who and where you are.

Spot bacon demand remains fickle with one off loads of non-farm assured spot baconers trading in the 140p – 142p/kg range, although regular sellers are closer to 150p/kg but still well below cost of production.

Cull sow prices are still on the drag showing very little sign of improving with most traded between 60p – 63p/kg, although sellers of large loads were able to obtain a modest premium over and above this level in some cases.

This puts the average value of sows at around £85/head compared with an average of £112/head this time last year, so there is still a lot of ground to be made up to put prices back in the black.

Weaner values have however improved to some extent with the latest AHDB 7kg average on an ex farm basis £38.76/head helped by a relatively firm SPP.

Buyers however are remaining cautious, especially in the light of high cereal and protein prices and the prospect of expensive straw at harvest time for those producing RSPCA assured pigs.

Feed ingredients which are the cornerstone of the profitability or otherwise for pig producers saw grain futures prices slightly dearer on the week, with July feed wheat quoted at £202/t and September at £173/t.

Spot exfarm feed wheat has remained at last week’s level of £191.9/t. Barley futures prices are little changed with deals agreed for August delivery at £158/t.

Proteins are significantly dearer with Hipro soya for August – October delivery up from £351/t a week ago to £385/t but longer months look better value with May – October 2022 traded at £357/t.

Rapemeal prices have been around the £236/t mark for August – October delivery.

And finally, according to recent reports worrying signs are emerging that the EU are planning to draw up legislative proposals by 2023 to phase out and finally ban the cage system for farm animals, which may include farrowing crates for pigs.

The European Citizen Initiative (ECI) backed by over 1.4 million signatures from throughout the EU has also received overwhelming support for a ban on cages from the European Parliament.

It will be interesting to see what the official definition of a ‘cage’ is and to what extent this will lead to the wholesale replacement of intensive farrowing systems or if derogations will be granted.

The thinking behind these proposals should be available in an upcoming impact assessment due to be completed before the end of 2022.

Further public consultations will also be carried out, but it looks as though major changes to indoor units could be on the menu as early as 2027.

Although the UK is no longer in the EU, rather than adding to the financial burdens already being borne by the UK pig industry, hopefully the high welfare standards already in place in this country will be taken into account.

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleFree vet-led Annual Health and Welfare reviews to be available from next year
Next Article NPA members urged to fill in labour shortage survey
Peter Crichton

Read Similar Stories

Vet View: Step back and look at your unit with external eyes

May 7, 2025

Comment: Pigs Tomorrow – shaping the future of the pig industry

May 5, 2025

Comment: All things Trump, tariffs and international trade

May 2, 2025
Latest News

MPs call on Government to delay IHT reforms until 2027

May 16, 2025

Government eases Germany foot-and-mouth disease controls

May 16, 2025

Q1 margins tighten further as pig prices fall and costs rise

May 15, 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 1739 Devon

    • Devon
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1738 Co. Fermanagh

    • County Fermanagh
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Stockperson

    • Swaffham, Norfolk
    • DYER LIVESTOCK 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
  • 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.