January 18, 2008
British pig farmers starts US$3-million advertising campaign
The future is dim for British pig farmers as feed prices skyrockets but pork prices remain stagnant.
Worried British pig farmers have began a GBP 1.5 million (US$3 million) national advertising campaign in an attempt to save their industry by securing a fairer price for their animals.
The campaign, which is supported by well-known chefs such as Anthony Worrall Thomson and Aldo Zilli, calls for consumers to support farmers by selecting pork and pork products that carry the British quality standard mark.
Global wheat prices have skyrocketed leading to exorbitant price increases in feed and other foods such as bread.
Most farmers GBP 26 (US$51.2) for each reared pig they are selling. Potential loss for the entire industry could be as much as GBP 200 million (US$393.8 million) in the next year, as it loses over GBP 3.5 million (US$7 million) each week.
British Pig Executive (BPEX) stared a campaign last year that succeeded in persuading supermarkets to increase prices of pork products. Chairman of BPEX, Stewart Houston expressed his delight when two national surveys showed that consumers are willing to pay the modest increases to help farmers. However, BPEX said that little of the extra money has been passed to the farmers.
Many farms will be forced to stop pig production if the pork prices do not increase.
A recent survey by the National Pig Association revealed that 95 percent of farmers are considering to pull the plug on production if the received price is not improved. This would inevitably lead to a shortage of pork in the long run, and cause sharp increases in retail price of pork products.
Consumers would also see a reduction in high welfare products as British farmers have one of the highest welfare standards in the world, which also places financial burden on the farmers.
Houston noted that once the farmers have taken decision to quit the industry, the investment required to recommence pig production is likely to be prohibitive.
