The National Pig Association, which lobbies in support of the UK’s pig farmers, has warned that there could be a shortage of pig products next year because pig-feed has become unaffordable following disastrous growing and harvesting weather in several global regions.

However, earlier this week, Germany’s pig industry body ISN revealed that reduced demand for pork products at the end of the summer season had only had marginal effects on returns. The ISN analysts said that, due to rises in input costs, supply had been effected and pigs going for slaughter were of a lesser weight, especially in southern Europe where drought has affected weight gain. They said this had led to steady or slightly increased returns across many EU states.

NPA this week called on the government to provide greater support for farmers, after the United States the government introduced a pork-buying programme in a bid to keep its pig farmers in business. In China, the government has announced plans to conserve pork in cold storage, as a buffer against shortages and high prices next year.

Producers in the UK have expressed fears that supermarket prices are not covering rising feed costs, which risks rendering pig farming unviable. Richard Longthorp, the NPA’s chair elaborated on the situation, “It usually takes at least six months for higher production costs to filter through to shop prices — but pig farmers simply haven't got that long. Some have got only a few weeks left before they run out of credit at the bank and have to sell up, and this is happening all over Europe.”

He conceded, “Some forecasters believe the price will increase by over a third eventually. But we would rather see a more immediate, modest but sustainable rise that would allow producers to get into profit sooner thereby preventing the wholesale reduction in the pig herd with the inevitable record prices that would follow”.

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