More sows are culled

Mar 18 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

A CENSUS of pigs in the UK taken by the EU has shown that weekly sow culling is 45% higher than usual for this time of year.

EU figures show a decline in the breeding herd – in-pig sows and gilts are showing a 4.5% fall compared with 2006.

BPEX Chief Executive Mick Sloyan said: “The average increase in UK culling of 1,700 a week this year equals 36,000 pigs over a typical 21 week cycle. If this rate of culling were to continue for six months that would mean almost a million fewer finished pigs on the market which in turn would mean much less home-produced pork and pork products on supermarket shelves.

“The only way of reversing this trend is for producers to be paid a fair return for their pigs. They are at present getting about 113p per kg when they need something like 140p per kg. ”

The census showed no decline in the national pig herd due to the backlog created by the foot and mouth crisis.