UK tops pig cost league

ONLY PARMA ham producers pay more to raise their pigs than British producers, according to EU figures from the Meat and Livestock Commission.

The average British pig farmer spent 110p to produce 1kg of pigmeat last year, about 5p/kg more than in 2002. This compared with an average return of about 95p/kg.

Spain was the cheapest producer at just over 80p/kg, with only Austria and Sweden – small producers compared with the UK – coming close to the costs faced by British farmers.

Mick Sloyan of the British Pig Executive said these two countries, like the UK, had heavy provision for animal welfare and environmental standards, and it was “no accident” their costs were among the highest.

“The real problem for producers in 2003 was not costs themselves, but the burden of diseases like PMWS and PDNS.”

Mr Sloyan said he expected the 2005 figures, when published, to show considerable improvement.

Big competitors like Denmark and Holland spent 95p/kg and 99p/kg, well below British farmers’ costs. France and Ireland spent 94p/kg and 92p/kg.

Independent consultant Peter Crichton said: “If we are to continue to compete, we have to supply a niche market, based on outdoor production of environmentally-friendly pigs.

“Wasting diseases kicked a huge hole in many producers’ profit and loss accounts,” he added.

Kevin Searle, of Norfolk-based Woodlark Farming, runs 3000 breeding sows and 45,000 contract finishing places.

“Pig health is under better control now and cereals prices are helping production costs.”

But input costs, such as fuel, electricity and fallen stock measures, were still rising, he added.