Dairygold urged to give pig purchase pledge

DAIRYGOLD was urged by pig producers yesterday to give a cast-iron commitment that it will continue to buy at least the same volume of Irish pigmeat as it currently slaughters.

IFA president John Dillon said producers will not tolerate attempts by Dairygold to use the closures as an opportunity to displace Irish pigmeat with imports.

Dairygold chief executive Jerry Henchy stated in a letter to IFA Pigs Committee chairman Pat O’Keeffe that the co-op’s decision to exit the pig slaughtering business was unavoidable because of market conditions and it would not be revoked.