The recent emergence of “positive factors” in relation to the EU pigmeat market must now be translated into improved farmgate prices says the Irish Farmers Association (IFA).
The comment is part of the IFA’s weekly pigmeat price update which shows Irish values have slightly improved on the week to reach 100% of the EU average price.
“The European market has remained reasonably stable this week,” said IFA pigs committee chairman, Pat O’Flaherty, adding that, following poor prices this year, the first signs of declining sow numbers have been seen.
“The June 2015 survey shows the number of breeding sows in the EU has slightly decreased compared to 2014. On the domestic market, meanwhile, imports are back 12% year on year in volume terms, exports have increased 12% and consumption of pigmeat increased 2.3% in the same period. All these positive factors must deliver improved farm gate prices.”
Factory pig throughput in Republic of Ireland export plants for the week ending October 10, 2015, was 63,158 head, according to the IFA. This was 4,797 more than in the corresponding week in 2014. Slaughtering’s in ROI export plants is 6.5% ahead of the same period in 2014.