Feed price rises could hurt Irish pig sector

Pig farmers maintain that they are currently losing €2
to €3 per produced pig and they claim that the situation gets worse every time
feed prices increase.

Further
increases
With compounders indicating that feed prices could rise by
€20-30 per tonne from September 1, pig committee vice-chairman Tim Cullinan at
the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) claimed that pig production costs would
increase by a further €0.08 to €0.13 per kilogramme.
Cullinan said, “From
September, production costs are likely to be close to €1.50 per kilogramme
deadweight.”
“Food prices will need to increase dramatically if farmers are
to remain in production, as the current price being paid for a kilo of pigmeat
is €1.38 on average,” he added.

Pork from abroad
Referring to the sale of pork from abroad, Cullinan
insisted that products using Irish pigmeat should carry the Bord Bia quality
assurance scheme logo. He said, “Retailers should not be allowed to deceive
customers on the origin of products.” He also said that the retail and catering
sectors would have to increase prices to reflect the higher cost of
production.

Necessary
“Retailers and the catering industry must
accept that it is necessary for the product price to rise in line with the price
increases that farmers have to pay,” he said.
“Food processors are also in
support of increases, stating that should customers wish to avail of quality
Irish produce, they need to pay for it.”

Related websites:
Irish Independent
Irish Farmers Association