Pig Market

As spot feed prices ease, pig production costs have fallen again for August.  Latest figures from the AHDB/BPEX show provisional estimates for the costs of pig production in August at 157.1p per kg deadweight, about 1p per kg less than in July and almost 13p per kg less than at the same time in 2012.  At the same time, the GB DAPP (EU spec) for the week ending 17^th August was 167.86p per kg. Although this fell by 0.19p per kg on the week (and for the the second consecutive week) it means pig producers will once again have positive margins for the month.  However, it must be remembered that most pigs currently being marketed will have been fed on earlier, more expensive, feed and therefore most farmers will not actually be making money on the pigs they are currently selling.

Finished prices have remained pretty good since the end of June.  Although, as stated above, they have eased slightly recently, the price for the week ending 17^th August was 17.39p per kg more than for the corresponding week in 2012.  Cull sow prices continue their upward trend with the GB cull sow price for the week ending ending 17^th August at 121.44p per kg; the highest level for over a year.  The strong German market is currently driving the cull sow market.