Irish pig farming leaders have welcomed the “more positive” price news relating to the European market in recent days, particularly in relation to developments in Germany and Spain.
The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) pigs committee chairman, Pat O’Flaherty, giving his weekly report on Irish pig prices, drew attention to the fact that the German price has increased by a “much needed” 3c/kg (2.3p/kg) while Spanish producers have seen an increase after four months of lower or static prices.
He also noted that over 60,000 tonnes of pigmeat have been put into store under the new private storage aid scheme, adding that as leg meat accounts for over 50% of this, most of that tonnage will remain in storage for 90 days.
“On the home market, meanwhile, IFA is actively testing pigmeat product under its DNA scheme to ensure that pigmeat labelled as Irish is in fact Irish,” said Mr O’Flaherty, commenting that farmers need the support of retailers in buying Irish to ensure a lift in prices early in the year.
IFA market figures show Irish pigmeat is currently achieving 108% of the EU average price with factory pig throughput in Republic of Ireland export plants for the week ending January 9, 2016, being 62,984 head, which was 19,577 less than in the corresponding week in 2015.