Scottish pig industry on the verge of collapse

Scotland's pig industry is in danger of collapsing if confidence does not improve, in turn making more pig producers leave the industry, according to NFU Scotland's Pigs Committee chairman Philip Sleigh.

Sleigh was giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Rural Affairs and the Environment Committee alongside other industry representatives including Gordon McKen, Managing Director of Scottish Pigs Producers Ltd. and Brian McGonagle, Managing Director of Vion Hall's.

The session was called by the Rural Affairs Committee on the back of the pig industry's continued plight, which has worsened since the Pig Industry Taskforce, which was established nearly a year ago to consider possible actions to help the industry, published its recommendations in August 2008.

Sleigh said that prices have improved to some degree, but largely due to the fact that the sterling fell starkly against the Euro, also adding that the improvement is also on the back of a ten-year financial low for pig producers, and many of Scotland's remaining producers are therefore planning to leave the industry in 2012, when the deadline for building costly additional slurry storage in compliance with Nitrates regulations arrives.

He added that this huge financial outlay which will not make businesses more efficient, may mean many pig farmers will choose to stop production altogether.

He also urged the Scottish Parliament to re-introduce capital allowances for new farm buildings.