NPA Survey

95% of British Pig Farmers About to Halt Production

Survey results published by the National Pig Association (NPA) have revealed that the UK pig farming industry is facing potential ruin.  Over 95% of farmers polled are considering halting production unless they can get better prices for their pigs.

Barney Kay, General Manager of the NPA said; “These survey results show us just how precarious the industry is as many farmers are seriously considering terminating production permanently.  If this were to happen the UK pig herd will be decimated irrevocably.”

click charts below to enlarge:

The survey shows that many farmers are now paying more than 50% for their pig feed than they were in 2006.  This has pushed up the current cost of rearing pigs to such an extent that the industry is simply unsustainable unless farmers receive a fair price for their pigs.

It is estimated that the industry is losing £6 a second which amounts to £3.6million a week for Britain’s estimated 1,400 pig farms.  The research has also uncovered just how quickly the pig farming industry could be affected with 24% of farmers saying they estimate that they can only continue  producing pigs for one to three months if they don’t get a better price, 26% say up to  six months and 22% think they can hold out for up to a year.

Kay continues, “All we are asking is for consumers to pay a little more on a pig product – no more than 20 pence per pack and that the money is passed back down the chain to farmers.  We believe that the great British public would be happy with this to help save pig farming from certain extinction.”

Anyone wishing to register their support can sign the online petition by clicking here