Pig industry profitable 'for first time in a decade'

- Published: 12 May, 2010

The UK pig industry is in the black for the first time in more than 10 years, according to Bpex.

Speaking at the Pig and Poultry Fair at Stoneleigh, Bpex director Mick Sloyan said it was "something we have been looking forward to for some time after many challenging years".

With feed prices levelling off and £4 margins on average, "we have a positive" picture, said Sloyan.

Margins fell in the second half of last year, but have been rising since January. "Not only are we in the black, but we are also seeing improvements in productivity and the trend there is going in the right direction," said Sloyan.

"What is most impressive is that the top 10% of pig producers are managing 27 pigs or sows per year".

However, Sloyan added: "The priority is to maintain the price premium we have over our competitors. Though it is positive, it wouldn't take much to see that +£2 a pig flip to -£2."

The number of pigs per sow per year, as recorded by Agrosoft, has risen over the last year and is averaging more than 22.

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