According to the Farmers Guardian, about 37,000 sows were slaughtered out in the first three months of the year, and there has also been a significant reduction in the purchase of gilt replacements by farmers.

Barney Kay, NPA general manager, said the UK breeding herd had contracted by a worrying eight per cent in the first three months of this year alone.

Last year the breeding herd stood of 455,000 sows, but this figure now threatens to dip below 400,000 animals. The impact of the current contraction will start impacting on pigmeat supplies by the second half of 2008, with the full effect felt next year, said Mr Kay.

Producer prices have been rising gradually, reaching around 116p/kg last week from 110p/kg at the start of the year. However, this is still way below the average cost of production, which is currently 145p/kg due to soaring feed costs.