Returns set to crackle as health-conscious shoppers pick pork

Published Date: 09 July 2008 PIG farmers have had a tough struggle over the past 12 months, with much higher feed prices and returns generally failing to cover production costs. Ex-farm prices have, however, improved considerably in recent weeks, with average returns now at more than 133p per kg – their highest since 1997 and 30p higher than a year ago. The UK pig industry has benefited from the relative weakness of s terling against the euro. This is especially true for the cull sow trade, which is predominately export-based. In the last week of June the value of UK cull sows, at 105p per kg, was an astonishing 60 per cent higher than at the same time year earlier. The sector is smaller than it has been at any point in living memory. In 1998 production was 1.14 million tonnes, but this year it is likely to be little over... [read full story]