Good News in the pig trade

[borderterribles]

Good news indeed. I am told by my butchers that they can't shift meat, certainly turnover on meat is down in our shop

It is good news, but partly the downturn in trade is seasonal. It's always a fairly hard sell at this time of year. I was talking to the owner of the business that does our slaughtering, this morning. He is finding it increasingly difficult to source baconers, for his own business and we both thought that these weight pigs will become harder to find and consequently, more expensive. Definitely on the western side of the country,anyway.

 

[Pan mixer]

It is good news, but partly the downturn in trade is seasonal. It's always a fairly hard sell at this time of year. I was talking to the owner of the business that does our slaughtering, this morning. He is finding it increasingly difficult to source baconers, for his own business and we both thought that these weight pigs will become harder to find and consequently, more expensive. Definitely on the western side of the country,anyway.

Looking forward to that. In the last Pig World they were saying that there has been a 25% reduction in sow numbers.

 

[Suffolk Serf]

The scars and ramifications from the pig rollover crisis and the ongoing losses from high feed / low pork prices are still taking their toll on most and with some very real personal tragedies

Yes, I’m in the process of winding my herd down and exiting. The process will take until July next year.
I‘m viewing it an an opportunity to do something else, not sure what yet, and to even have a life!

 

[Pan mixer]

Yes, I’m in the process of winding my herd down and exiting. The process will take until July next year.
I‘m viewing it an an opportunity to do something else, not sure what yet, and to even have a life!

It might be a brilliant time to quit, just sell the last finished ones before the price goes down again.

 

[borderterribles]

Looking forward to that. In the last Pig World they were saying that there has been a 25% reduction in sow numbers.

Well, I don't know what the true figures for pigs reared per sow annually,are. But if it is similar to our twenty, that is one hell of a lot of pigs that won't be there,next year

 

[JP1]

Yes, I’m in the process of winding my herd down and exiting. The process will take until July next year.
I‘m viewing it an an opportunity to do something else, not sure what yet, and to even have a life!

Tragic just the same.

I had another disturbing phone call today from a lovely customer's Father. My customer contact is in a very dire mental state and when I was ending the call and saying the most important aspect man to man was for him to convey however he could my regards to him I had a 75 year old good farmer in tears.

I always come back to picturing Johnson smirking and joking about the pigs were going to die any way

 

[Pan mixer]

Well, I don't know what the true figures for pigs reared per sow annually,are. But if it is similar to our twenty, that is one hell of a lot of pigs that won't be there,next year

I think that the national average is rather better than your or my 20

 

[borderterribles]

I think that the national average is rather better than your or my 20

Yes, I have no doubt it is, but it is partly big numbers that cause the problems in the first place, I think.

 

[Pan mixer]

Yes, I have no doubt it is, but it is partly big numbers that cause the problems in the first place, I think.

As well as the relentless increase in carcase weight over the years

 

[Suffolk Serf]

It might be a brilliant time to quit, just sell the last finished ones before the price goes down again.

Might be a tad early maybe but it fits in with when we should be moving sites.

 

[Pan mixer]

Might be a tad early maybe but it fits in with when we should be moving sites.

I am still very sad that you aren't going to be doing the job in the future, hopefully all your experience can be used to the full elsewhere.

 

[Nukemall]

Yes, I’m in the process of winding my herd down and exiting. The process will take until July next year.
I‘m viewing it an an opportunity to do something else, not sure what yet, and to even have a life!

Really sorry to hear this. A lot of very good producers had more bulls**t than they can put up with this time. Paying for the privilege of working long hard days wears very thin, very quickly.
Certainly I think a lot of us will be thinking that we don't want to get caught like this ever again, and now the processors have learnt a new trick, you can guarantee they will try it again the next time they have a surplus of pigs.
I certainly think we may well be below critical mass on independent producers in this country now.
Hope something new and exciting finds you!

 

[Suffolk Serf]

Really sorry to hear this. A lot of very good producers had more bulls**t than they can put up with this time. Paying for the privilege of working long hard days wears very thin, very quickly.
Certainly I think a lot of us will be thinking that we don't want to get caught like this ever again, and now the processors have learnt a new trick, you can guarantee they will try it again the next time they have a surplus of pigs.
I certainly think we may well be below critical mass on independent producers in this country now.
Hope something new and exciting finds you!

Thanks.
I really fear that the massive fall in the UK sow herd will lead to the closure of a large processing plant, I'm sure that they would rather do that than run at a loss.
It is rumoured that the company beginning with a C has a large amount of pork in storage.
All of that could mean that there will be no massive upswing in prices.
I hope that I am completely wrong on all counts but wouldn't put anything past the C word.

 

[Nukemall]

I really fear that the massive fall in the UK sow herd will lead to the closure of a large processing plant, I'm sure that they would rather do that than run at a loss.

This fear was raised to me by a friend a couple of months ago. They are very worried at least one of the bigger plants will go. It only means there is even less space for independent producer pigs when things get tight.

 

[Barleymow]

Thanks.
I really fear that the massive fall in the UK sow herd will lead to the closure of a large processing plant, I'm sure that they would rather do that than run at a loss.
It is rumoured that the company beginning with a C has a large amount of pork in storage.
All of that could mean that there will be no massive upswing in prices.
I hope that I am completely wrong on all counts but wouldn't put anything past the C word.

They keep rolling pigs been going on for over a year now

 

[l'ordinary bonville]

I think we are seeing an inevitable trend of deliberate reduction of independent producers. Once the processors have totally cornered the system then they will promote a uk herd expansion similar to in the USA under their ownership and control.
I could see a deliberate plant closure to speed up the process. Go for the jugular so to speak while we’re on our knees

 

[Barleymow]

Pig kill down several thousand this week on a year ago imports still coming in grr

 

[Brownie3856]

One of the latest stats shows that there’s has been a uk herd reduction of around 40,000 sows, this will be slightly offset by the heavy carcass weights due to processors rolling pigs and cancelling loads week in/week out over the last 2 years but in the next 4-6months I would like to think that this reduction will start to show in the supply chain but can’t see prices heading much over £2/kg anytime soon

 

[teslacoils]

Not sure if it's a consequence of older, heavier animals being cut, but the pork I've had from Morrisons this last two months has been really good. Shoulder three times has been visibly darker meat and more yellowish fat. And much more depth of fat as well. Has roasted beatifully. Mrs tc thinks I'm mad on this heat to have roast pork every Sunday.

 

[Pan mixer]

Not sure if it's a consequence of older, heavier animals being cut, but the pork I've had from Morrisons this last two months has been really good. Shoulder three times has been visibly darker meat and more yellowish fat. And much more depth of fat as well. Has roasted beatifully. Mrs tc thinks I'm mad on this heat to have roast pork every Sunday.

Couldn't you manage some Wednesdays too?

Can't stand the stuff myself but don't tell anyone.