IFA warns culled sows may not be replaced

IFA reports a wide range of pig prices from 130 to 142 c/kg, and notes that prices are now considerably lower in Northern Ireland, where slaughterings for the first week of 2008 were about 10% higher, year-on-year.

In the south, export plants are mostly at 130 to 141c/kg on a flat rate basis, plus the welfare bonus of 2 to 6c. Pork slaughterers quote from 134 to 142c.

The 32 kg weaners are at €44 to 48, and sows are at €16 to 22 per cwt liveweight. Sow slaughterings in the south were 2,512 for the first week, 314 head less than 2006, but the difference this year is that a high percentage of these sows may not be replaced, warned IFA.