The Stage is Set for Better Spring and Summer
UK - Although any seller who accepted less than 140p for spot bacon might be described as an April Fool, as it turned out despite the upcoming holiday period every pig was sold and although we are still receiving reports of a slightly indifferent demand at the fresh meat end of the market, there were very few cases of spot baconers being sold for less than 142p.The DAPP continues to nudge ahead and now stands at 142.51p and the Tulip base price remained at a firm stand on of 144p.
Only fairly modest premiums of 4–6p available for gilts and lighter weights, but those producers with Freedom Food standard pigs will soon be able to name their price as demand in this sector continues to rise.
The mysterious increase in the strength of sterling continues and as a result the euro has lost 2 per cent in value over the last week and now stands at 88.7p, which has done nothing to help on the cull sow export front and also allows those dreaded imports to slip under our radar at less money.
With several large European cull sow processors shutting down over the Easter period demand has also be curtailed and as a result United Kingdom export abattoirs were not particularly keen to pay much more than 100p for cull sows compared with 122p a year ago, which is equivalent to a drop in value of over £30/head.
Weaner prices however continue to improve with the latest AHDB 30kg ex-farm average now standing at £53.31/head, but these must come with an approved Circoflex-type vaccine to be acceptable to many buyers.
The often unreported trade for 4 week-old-piglets is also hardening and they are now worth close to £40 in some regions according to numbers and quality.
Hopefully the stage is now set for the industry to spring into summer with prices at levels that may help to reward producers for all their past trials (but few tribulations), especially in the outdoor sector following last winter.