Spanish producers cannot afford to finish their pigs
SPAIN - Spanish producers are struggling to stay in business feed prices escalate and the market for weaners and finished pigs continues spiral downwards to unsustainable levels.
10 September 2007
2 minute read
The price of 5kg suckling pigs is just £13.50 each on average – around half of what they were fetching at the beginning of the year.
Reports suggest that the collapse of weaner prices is because many producers cannot afford to take their pigs to slaughterweight following the doubling of feed prices. Many farmers are now selling weaners into the suckling pig market, which is now seeing oversupply.
Five years ago Spain had 8,000 pig farms, ther are now just 5,000 pig production businesses.
