Weaners hit highest price since September 2010

Weaner prices have jumped by almost £1 a head during the past fortnight, to an average of £46.06 in the week to 8 December. That is the highest level since September 2010, and is £2.52 more than the same time last year.

“The strong weaner prices reflect some optimism about finished pig prices in the spring, despite feed prices remaining high,” said a report by BPEX. Finished pig prices continued to climb slowly, rising by 0.04p/kg in the week to 1 December, to an EU-spec DAPP of 160.46p/kg. That was the highest price for at least five years, and 13p above last year.

UK clean pig slaughterings reached more than 1 million head in October – 1% more than last year. For the first 10 months of the year, slaughterings totalled 8.4m head – 2% up on 2011.

However, EU supplies have fallen sharply, with slaughterings in August 6% down on last year, and September showing an even steeper drop of potentially 10%.

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