Swine fever concerns bankers

By Peter Crichton

BANKS are now flagging up serious concerns over the ability of many producers affected by CSF regulations to stay in business.

With overdrafts and feed credit terms now stretched beyond normal ceilings the NPA are pressing for rapid Government action to end the financial nightmare many producers are now caught up in.

At the same time non CSF producers are continuing to benefit from a further lift in finished pig prices due in part to dwindling supplies.

Many of the larger abattoirs are now short of pigs and are all looking to “lock in” to future throughput for their underused plants in the weeks and months ahead.

The weekly kill continues to slide towards 210,000 head and spot prices are rising.

Live markets this week saw pigs traded at up to 90p/kg liveweight and the GB AESA has also started to gain ground and now stands at 100.59p/kg.

Pigmeat demand normally improves throughout the EU at this time of year, although with the Euro plumbing new depths, imports will continue to undermine the UK market especially in the bacon sector.

UK pig traders are predicting firm prices in the run up to Christmas within the 100-110p/kg range.