The cull sow trade has taken another hit as due to a significant COVID outbreak at one of the major continental processors.
The trade has already struggled badly in recent months due to oversupply in Europe, with spot cull sow prices now in the region of 13-20p/kg, according Thames Valley Cambac (TVC). “Numbers of culls were limited with many having to be rolled,” TVC said in its latest weekly market update.
More generally, TVC described how the ‘merry-go-round’ continued last week with ‘little ambition from any of the processors to increase number allocations’.
“Factory reliability continued to be questionable, and staffing remains an issue. Lower contract contributions and a large fall in the SPP combined to force prices lower.
“Space on farm is at a premium and slaughter weights continue to breach new highs. Extra slaughter space can solve this tedious circle, and we are open to any ideas, because without significant change soon, on farm slaughter becomes more realistic.”
European markets were little changed, but prices in sterling were substantially lower due a weaker Euro that ended the week down 1.57p at 83.93p – its lowest level since February 2020.
The weaner market remains ‘extremely subdued and badly disrupted’ as the backlog in the slaughter market affects unit restocks. There is little or no spot market and there were no prices issued by AHDB.
European Prices (p/kg.dwt) w/c 21/11/21 Â Movement on last week
SPP Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 144.16 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â – 2.31
Tribune Spot Bacon               143.66            – 1.10
European Av. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 104.57 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â – 1.88
Belgium                                  81.75              – 1.53
Denmark                                94.84              – 1.70
France                                    124.38            – 1.74
Germany                                100.71            – 1.90
Ireland                                    122.53            – 2.31
Holland                                   96.85              – 1.82
Spain                                      111.20            – 2.09
(Ref Weekly Tribune)