November 7, 2007

UK pig breeders urge action to stop farmers' exodus

British pig farmers say they face huge increases in costs and a drop in prices paid for their animals and warn that unless supermarkets raise prices and feed money back to producers, there will be a widespread disappearance of pig farmers, The Daily Telegraph reports Tuesday (November 6).

In a letter to the UK newspaper, Stephen Curtis, chief executive of pig breeders ACMC, said: "Unless action is taken quickly, we're likely to see a mass exodus."

The National Pig Association estimates farmers lose GBP26 for every pig they produce. An NPA survey last month showed many pig farmers are considering quitting the business. It estimated the country's 1,400 pig farms are losing GBP3.6 million a week.