Concern over falling pig supplies
Pigs Committee chairman Pat O'Keeffe said this type of totally unacceptable action has the production sector in its current unstable situation.
As a result, many producers are unsure of their future and this instability is reflected in falling pig supplies.
Mr O'Keeffe said that since May 23 a pig supply shortage and improved demand had given rise to very significant price increases across the EU.
France increased their price by 29c/kg, Germany by 24c/kg, Spain by 22c/kg, Holland by 20c/kg and Denmark by 10c/kg, while Ireland only managed a lowly 4c/kg rise last week. This leaves Irish prices second bottom in the EU price league and 14c/kg or e10 per pig below the average EU price.
“Irish producers expect to get their fair share from the market place, and it was the failure of factories to increase prices this week that has angered producers,” said Mr O’Keeffe.
“With weekly slaughtering in 2004 down by 4,500 per week or 107,600 per year to date compared to 2003, surely the processors must know that the failed policy of paying Irish producers one of the lowest prices in the EU is no longer sustainable".
Mr O'Keeffe pointed out that producers had rightly expected prices in Ireland to increase by at least 4c/kg this week. Now that they haven’t, Mr O’Keefe felt it would not be surprising to see many producers move pigs from their traditional outlet to get the better prices which are available.
