Pig farmers 'breathing a small sigh of relief' following price increase

"Today marks the first positive move for Irish family pig farms, but this is only the beginning of what is required at farm level."

The increase in pig price can be attributed to a tightening of supplies and market demand, the IFA said, which is good news for farmers.

Pig farmers across the country are "breathing a small sigh of relief" following an 8c per kilo increase in pig prices on Friday, Irish Farmers' Association pig chair Roy Gallie said.

After over 18 months of loss-making and anticipation that pig production "would eventually return to profitability", the 8c rise is a "positive step towards achieving this objective", Mr Gallie said.