NS Pigs Continues To Develop Sow Market

IRELAND - NS Pigs' commercial director, Paul Gilmore, has confirmed to Farming Life that the company is shipping up to 1,100 Irish sow carcases per week to the Westfleich processing operation in Germany.

"We are sourcing between 150 and 200 sows in Northern Ireland on a weekly basis," he added.

"All our animals are slaughtered in Gort, County Galway. Our business with Westfleich is based on a one year rolling supply contract. We are getting market price for our pigs. However, it's significant that sow prices throughout Ireland have increased by between EUR25 ( 317.21) and EUR30 ( 320.65) per head since we entered the market five months ago."

The company is also putting great emphasis on the fact that it is now procuring stock from shareholders and non shareholders.

"The company has come along way over recent months," stressed Paul Gilmore.

"Most pig producers on the island of Ireland are very aware of our existence and want to know more about us. In response to this we hope to hold a public meeting in the Armagh over the coming weeks."

Source: Farming Life

30 January 2006