Red tractor pork

[Stevethemeat]

I hear there is a lower demand for red tractor pork because the supermarkets and wholesalers are either stocking rspca freedom foods or cheep imported pork from Europe
Any one got any comments to discuss

 

[Suffolk Serf]

That’s hardly Red Tractor’s fault.
At least 40% of UK pigs are produced to Freedom Foods standards, being outdoor bred, so oversupplying what should be a niche market for welfare.

 

[Stevethemeat]

That’s hardly Red Tractor’s fault.
At least 40% of UK pigs are produced to Freedom Foods standards, being outdoor bred, so oversupplying what should be a niche market for welfare.

There’s currently an under supply of rspca freedom pork which is good but the Europeans are now covering the red tractor market because there lower price

I wasent saying it’s red tractors fault but it make some interesting thoughts on the basis of heading towards 2 tiers
High welfare outdoor reared rspca stamped
Or
Imported pork any standard as long as it’s low priced

 

[Suffolk Serf]

There’s currently an under supply of rspca freedom pork which is good but the Europeans are now covering the red tractor market because there lower price

I wasent saying it’s red tractors fault but it make some interesting thoughts on the basis of heading towards 2 tiers
High welfare outdoor reared rspca stamped
Or
Imported pork any standard as long as it’s low priced

I've long thought that if we do so much of this outdoor job (I do it myself) we should perhaps try harder to export it to premium markets. I know that some processors are starting to do this.

 

[spin cycle]

can't see how imported pork can be much cheaper than RT.....based on the RT pork joint i bought last week it has be a budget brand

 

[New holland]

A lot of boys around my way have gone in to B+B pigs supplied to them as small pig kept in shed till ready to go a lot of sheds gone up for it

 

[Grass And Grain]

Don't know any facts about this, but if supermarkets are buying pork/bacon which is not red tractor, then why are UK producers bothering to pay the Red Tractor membership and associated costs?

 

[Suffolk Serf]

A lot of boys around my way have gone in to B+B pigs supplied to them as small pig kept in shed till ready to go a lot of sheds gone up for it

They would be outdoor bred pigs and on both RSPCA Assured (Freedom Food) and Red Tractor.

 

[Suffolk Serf]

Don't know any facts about this, but if supermarkets are buying pork/bacon which is not red tractor, then why are UK producers bothering to pay the Red Tractor membership and associated costs?

'cos no processor would buy them otherwise.

 

[An Gof]

'cos no processor would buy them otherwise.

That’s it, they all want “the penny and the bun”

 

[Stevethemeat]

'cos no processor would buy them otherwise.

Your right the mainstream processors won’t touch anything non assured
But is the next conundrum heading that we carnt compete with Europe ,red tractor suppliers will need to upgrade to freedom foods or the price force them out
Bearing in mind that only a brexit no deal with import tariffs imposed
Or feed price reduction which I don’t see untill harvest left to re balance the job
IMO I don’t see either of these solutions heading our way
I’m scratching my head

 

[Suffolk Serf]

Your right the mainstream processors won’t touch anything non assured
But is the next conundrum heading that we carnt compete with Europe ,red tractor suppliers will need to upgrade to freedom foods or the price force them out
Bearing in mind that only a brexit no deal with import tariffs imposed
Or feed price reduction which I don’t see untill harvest left to re balance the job
IMO I don’t see either of these solutions heading our way
I’m scratching my head

We're all scratching our heads!
Many of us have done okay for feed raw material cost cover well into next year and have enough fat on our backs to put up with some more uncertain times.