The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has reported a “noted increase in activity from pig processors” in recent days.
Commenting that the increase is driven by factories’ need to secure sufficient supplies going forward IFA also said that most procurement managers are concerned that the number of pigs presented for slaughter will reduce slightly in the coming weeks.
“While the (average) quotes remain unchanged, prices of up to 4cent/kg (3.5p/kg) above these prices have been paid for spot loads of pigs,” said IFA Pigs Committee Chairman, Tom Hogan (pictured above), adding that the greatest demand was once again being seen from the northern part of the country and in the North of Ireland.
Mr Hogan urged all processors to increase pig prices by at least 2cent/kg (1.75p/kg) this week to “ensure pig farmers have a chance of profitability in 2017”.
Ireland’s percentage of the EU price is currently on 102% of the EU average, as reported to the European Commission for the week commencing January 16, 2017.
Factory pig throughput in Republic of Ireland export plants for the week ending Jan 21, 2017, was 64,238 head which was 1,725 more than in the corresponding week in 2016.
