Pig farmers have called on retailers, butchers and shoppers for their support to help them survive “the worst period of low prices for over half a decade”.
Representatives from across the UK sector, including NFU Scotland and Quality Meat Scotland, have joined forces to explain to the public why the sector needs help. In a joint statement, they said pig farmers were losing up to £10 on every pig sold as a result of EU over-supply.
“Without the support of the rest of the food-chain, serious contraction in the national pig herd is inevitable.
“This will mean even more imports of lower-welfare pork in future,” read the statement which was also signed by AHDB Pork, Assured Food Standards, the British Pig Association, National Pig Association and Pig Veterinary Society.
The group said many producers were already planning to scale back production or quit.
In a bid to prevent a mass exodus from the sector, they called on all parts of the supply chain for actions.
Processors were told: “Don’t exploit the current period of over-supply to increase your margins. You’re already in profit, your suppliers aren’t.”
Independent butchers were told to ensure all the pork on offer had country of origin labelling so customers would know when they were buying British. The same plea was given to the food service sector, with the group asking for menus to state if British pork was on offer. The organisations thanked retailers who already stocked 100% British fresh pork and asked those who did not to make an immediate commitment to source at least another 5% more British produce. Addressing consumers, the group said: “Pork is particularly good value at present as pig farmers are being paid at 2007 levels for their pigs.
“Please always make a point of checking the pork, bacon, ham and sausages you buy are British.”
And lastly to pig farmers, the organisations said: “Keep taking a pride in the excellent job you do to produce healthy, nutritious British pork. Your commitment to improving efficiency and animal welfare deserves recognition by consumers and everyone in the production chain.”
Case study: From £29,000 to £19,000 per lorry
North-east pig farmer Kevin Gilbert is making a loss on every pig he produces.
Mr Gilbert, who produces around 200 pigs a week from his herd of 450 sows at Womblehill Farm, Kintore, Inverurie, says prices have been dropping steadily from a record high in November 2013.
He said an average-sized pig farm supplying a lorry of 200 bacon pigs weekly was getting £29,000 for the load in November 2013, £25,000 in November 2014, £21,000 in November 2015 and now only £19,000 for each load.
Mr Gilbert, who chairs NFU Scotland’s pigs working group, said: “Our price has been better than mainland Europe due to the commitment of many British retailers to stock 100% fresh pork. These are Aldi, Budgens, Co-op, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose.
“Unfortunately, although our price is falling, the retailer hasn’t reduced the price of pork to stimulate demand but is instead taking a larger margin.”
He said he hoped increased pig slaughtering facilities in Brechin, which opened two weeks ago, would give farmers the chance to go out and promote Scottish pork.