2012 - better prospects ahead?

摘要

The UK pig industry may be facing a brighter future than it did a year ago. In January 2011, ex-farm feed wheat was trading at an average of 196/t, compared with 138/t today. Every bacon pig produced will consume an estimated 250-300kg of feed duringits gestation, rearing and finishing period. With feed costs at current levels, this 60/t drop in wheat prices represents an overall saving to the industry of more than 15 a pig produced, or a benefit in production costs of 20p/ kg deadweight compared with costs in early 2011. Pig prices are also at slightly more positive levels than they were 12 months ago, with the current Deadweight Adjusted Pig Price of 145.42p/kg, almost 6% higher than a year ago. Although European pigmeat prices have fallen sinceChristmas, European mainland average prices are still 8% up on the year, limiting the extent to which cheaper imports can undercut the UK market.