Pigs in plea for fair play
Pubs are being urged to pay a fair price for British pork in a new campaign.
Pig farmers and processors have launched a major campaign, at www.britishpigsareworthit.com, to persuade supermarkets and foodservice outlets to pay a higher price for pork, sausages, bacon and ham to cover growing losses.
The campaign comes on the back of a worldwide rises in feed prices, which have pushed up production costs for pig farmers by more than 30 per cent in the past year.
A British Pig Executive (BPEX) report outlines the impact of the cost of feed on the industry. Key findings include:
- Farmers are currently paid £1.10 per kilo for pigs that cost £1.44 per kilo to produce
- Without a price increase farmers stand to lose approximately £200m in the next year
- Feed costs have doubled in the past year and now account for 59 per cent of pig production costs, up from 45 per cent in 2006
- Britain's high standards of animal welfare in pig production will remain under threat unless price increases are realised.
The campaignhas been launched with an open letter from Britain's pig farmers in national newspapers. The letter calls on supermarkets and the foodservice industry to increase the amount they pay farmers by 34p per kilo. The adverts have been paid for by pig farmers via the National Pig Association (NPA).
A website and online petition www.britishpigsareworthit.com have also been launched.
BPEX chairman Stewart Houston said: "While feed costs have risen and look set to rise further, there has actually been a downward pressure on the price that farmers receive. This squeeze clearly can't go on. Something has to be done and that is why we are calling on supermarkets and the foodservice industry to pay us a reasonable price."
