October 29, 2007

High feed costs may trigger massive exodus for British pig farmers

Ninety-five percent of British pig farmers may cease production unless they get a better price for their products, according to a survey conducted by the National Pig Association (NPA).

The association said farmers are "being driven to the wall" by spiralling feed prices which are making rearing pigs "unsustainable".

NPA says farmers are losing GBP26 (US$53.41) per pig - GBP6 (US$12.32) a second or GBP3.6 million (US$7.39 million) a week across the industry due to high feed costs caused by global wheat price rises.

The survey reveals rising price of feed is considered as a bigger threat to British pork production than the recent foot-and-mouth-disease plague.

Two thirds of those questioned said feed costs were the biggest problem they faced, compared with 14 percent who highlighted FMD as the greatest issue.

The association issued a plea for consumers to pay more for pork products to prevent the industry going into terminal decline.