Data of that sort is just what is provided by the Pig Yearbook, just published for BPEX by the Market Intelligence section of AHDB.

It provides a detailed analysis of the development of the challenging EU market and more importantly its impact on relative cost competitiveness.

The Yearbook includes:

• analysis of production costs and returns, indicating that the average costs of production in GB in 2009 at 131.4p per kg deadweight was below the EU average.
• surveyed financial and technical performance data for 2010 for various pig production systems from Agrosoft Ltd.
• pig meat supply and demand trends.
• key industry statistics and carcase classification.

BPEX Head of Communications Andrew Knowles said: "This book contains the whole industry in figures and gives a complete overview of UK pig production.

"It is essential for all those in the industry as the information it contains will help them make sound business decisions."