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

Who Goes There

Peter CrichtonBy Peter CrichtonNovember 8, 20193 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

Something of a “two-tier” trade, with domestic prices being supported by an ongoing strong demand from China where millions of pigs have now been taken out of the supply chain due to African Swine Fever.

Reports from the UK, however, are that domestic demand remains somewhat fragile and although “it’s an ill wind”, without the ASF situation in the Far East, all the signs are that this is putting a rising base in the market without which we could see prices 20-30p per kg lower and with the trend for more single species UK abattoirs to apply for China permits, this should help to stimulate demand at a time of year when prices often struggle.

The SPP moved up by a useful .92p and now stands at 157.72p, although it is interesting to note that German prices have remained unchanged at €1.85 since August 21, signalling a firm but stable EU mainland market at present.

Closer to home, fresh meat buyers are still commenting on the lack of any significant improvement in domestic demand for fresh pork and the price is being led by the export market.

Spot bacon trades were reported in the 158-162p region according to spec and most weekly contribution prices have remained at similar levels, with others up by around 1p within the 150-157p range, which is still lower than the SPP.

With the value of the pound virtually unchanged the euro is currently worth 86.18p and as a result, cull sow values have held at similar levels on the week with most traded between 104-109p according to load size.

Weaner prices are however, indicating firmer trends with the latest AHDB 30kg weaner price at its highest level for many months averaging £57.02 and the 7kg ex farm average stands at a relatively healthy £40.86p with buyers across the board showing more interest and possibly indicating the prospect of firmer finished pig demand around and even beyond the Christmas period, which could be a pleasant change from falling prices when the Christmas decorations come down.

UK feed costs are showing very slight increases with December feed wheat traded at £147/t and a significant rise to £160/t for September next year.

Feed barley futures are between £131/t for December and £147/t for next September, but protein values have eased a touch with Hipro soya traded for December-April ’20 at £295/t and between May and October ’20 at £299/t.

Currency fluctuations will continue to have an influence on cereal and protein prices as well as global weather and climatic conditions, so any opportunities to lock into lower prices should be considered.

And finally, on the bio security front, yet more reasons why we should all ensure that movements of livestock and pork products into this country should be very tightly controlled, we also have the threat of feral pigs to deal with and these have been the vector spreading ASF in some parts of the world.

This comes at a time where the Australian government should be commended for the measures they are taking to limit pork products illegally entering the food chain with the news that up to half of the illegally imported pork products have been found to be infected with ASF and a rigid policy of deporting tourists who have bought in any pork products is being followed and visitors visas can be cancelled on bio-security grounds.

Other countries including the UK, could do well to pay greater attention to limiting potentially infective imports which could spell the downfall of the UK pig industry if ASF manages to swim the channel one way or another.

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleYoung pig farmers focused on efficiency and succession planning
Next Article Danish Crown to sell $100 million of pork to China’s COFCO by 2020
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

APHA to use genomics to boost disease surveillance in £10m project

May 13, 2025

AHDB and Livetec join forces to stage ASF contingency planning workshops

May 12, 2025

Pig supplies suspended from Lincolnshire farm, after footage published

May 12, 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 1737 Shropshire

    • Shropshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Managing Director

    • Oxfordshire and North Yorkshire
    • United Pig Co-operative (UPC)
  • Experienced Pig Stockperson – Ref 1736 South East England

    • South East England
    • 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
  • 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.