This week’s Slaughter Pig Marketing Summary, from Thames Valley Cambac, said that the extreme wet weather caused a myriad of factory issues with leaky rooves and flooded lairages to contend with. Hauliers and producers performed miracles holding or redirecting stock as events unfolded.
However, a large number of pigs were inevitably rolled into this trading week. This swelled supplies, and although demand was indifferent, all pigs were placed. Contract prices were similar with all price contributions standing on. The fresh meat market was quiet with summer holidays reducing footfall on the high street.
The cull sow market was buoyant on the back of improved continental trade, and prices increased by 3p to 4p on average. European markets were generally stronger with Germany and Belgium up 4 and 5 eurocents respectively.
Quotes in sterling were enhanced greatly however by the stronger Euro that ended the week up 1.87p at 91.50p – a level not seen since September 2017. Finally, it was great to see the new ASF awareness posters being rolled out at UK ports and airports – well done to the NPA for their perseverance.
The Weaner Marketing Summary, for week commencing July 28, reported that supplies trended higher again, with open market entries more plentiful, on the back of better production / lack of further fattening space. Fatteners however, remained reluctant to bid for anything outside contract commitments, with some calendar watching – a 7kg pig now is a Christmas / New Year bacon pig. The prices announced by the AHDB saw the weighted average for a 30kg store pig quoted at £51.49, and the weighted average for a 7kg weaner fall by 33p to £38.70p.