'Deliver the Belgian pigs lighter'

The Belgian pig sector is plagued on all sides by the recent outbreak of African swine fever. With a series of proposals, the Flemish Producers Organization for Pig Farmers (VPOV) hopes that the price pressure will decrease.

The organization reports that reports that the outbreak entails great uncertainty and, moreover, significant losses. Since the outbreak, Belgian pig prices have dropped significantly; for example, the Danis quotation dropped by no less than €3 to €0,21 per kilo of live weight in 0,87 weeks.

Pig farmers have to pay €20 per pig slaughtered, of which €8 is due to the outbreak of African swine fever. The remaining amount is a result of the already low pig prices in Europe.

Deliver less heavy
Meanwhile, 16 countries outside the eurozone have an import ban on Belgian pork. The result is that Belgian cold stores have become overcrowded. In order to relieve the pressure on the meat market, the VPOV calls on Belgian pig farmers to deliver the pigs lighter.

Apart from that, the last kilos also have the highest feed conversion. With a feed conversion of approximately 3,4 and a feed price of €255 per ton, the latter kilos cost €1,06 in feed per kilo slaughtered weight.

The producer organization also wants countries to import live pigs from Belgium again. Since the outbreak, Dutch and German slaughterhouses have stopped importing. It is not yet known whether foreign slaughterhouses (such as Vion and Tönnies) will respond to this call.

Windfall for meat export
In all the hectic pace, there is also a windfall for the Belgian pig sector. For example, Malaysia, 1 of the 16 countries, has decided to lift the import ban on frozen pork. This example may be followed by the other countries that have announced an import ban.    

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is editor-in-chief of Boerenbusiness. He also focuses on dairy, pig and meat markets. He also follows (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

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