Hopes rise of regional pigmeat exports

By Peter Crichton

DESPITE recent foot-and-mouth “clusters” such as that in the Settle area, hopes are rising that some form of regional exports may be allowed in the next eight weeks.

EU vets believe that pigmeat-only exports could be restarted from East Anglia and the north of Scotland, provided appropriate precautions are in place.

However the National Pig Association is reported to be at odds with the paymasters – the NFU – over this issue.

The NFU has been pressing for a one nation-one species “all clear” policy.

In the light of the way foot-and-mouth continues to surface in sheep, an early end to the crisis seems unlikely.

Meat traders believe that a resumption of exports, even on a limited regional basis, could lift the home trade by up to 10p/kg in a matter of a few days.

With Russia also opening its borders to EU pigmeat, wholesale prices could rise across Europe.

Prices in most of the major EU pig countries continue at generally higher levels than in the UK, apart from Holland where numbers have built up due to foot-and-mouth restrictions.

Germany is trading at 120p/kg and France 105p.

Danish prices are touching 100p, whereas the UK AESA continues to hover around 96p for a lighter pig, with a higher level of bottom-line deductions.

Some form of export activity would also help the struggling UK cull sow market where quotes are still in the 25p/kg region compared with 80p in many parts of Europe.

• Peter Crichton is a Suffolk-based pig farmer offering independent valuation and consultancy services to the UK pig industry
  

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