The supply of factory-ready pigs remains in tight supply and the weekly kill is running about 2,000 pigs per week less than 2018 throughput. All prices quoted to pig farmers remain at the same levels as a week ago, with €1.74-1.76c/kg being the average price most are receiving this week. It’s a similar story across the EU with stable quotes, tighter supply and slightly reduced demand from China. All market analysts predict that demand will increase in the coming weeks and drive pig prices back up to €1.80c/kg and beyond. IFA pigs chair Tom Hogan again called on all authorities to increase vigilance at all airports and ports in Ireland in the effort to prevent the introduction of African swine fever (ASF) into the island. With prices finally back in the black, we cannot let ASF into the country. The pig industry, which is Ireland’s third largest sector behind dairy and beef, would be decimated by an outbreak.

Pig prices reported to IFA w/c 29/07/2019