For pig farmers, the knife cuts both ways

Yields in pig and sow farming have greatly improved in recent months, according to the Countus Pig Index. The increasing yield of sow farmers is expected to level off in the coming weeks, with the fattening pig farmer looking forward to a further increase.

The advance shown by piglet prices is almost incomprehensible. For example, the DCA BestPigletPrice has gone upside down almost 3 times in recent months to €57,50 per piglet. This price recovery has of course major consequences for the Countus Piglet Index, because it has been showing an increase for some time as a result.

Sow farmer returns are leveling off
The Piglet Index has also gained ground in recent weeks and recorded 158,2 points at the beginning of May, with 100 points being the long-term average. Since the feed prices have fallen since January and piglet prices are rising, the knife cuts both ways. The Index is expected to level off in the coming weeks, before dropping to lower levels in the summer months. This is in line with the seasonal pattern generally shown by piglet prices.

Pig prices are rising again
The yield of fattening pig farmers, on the other hand, is looking for higher levels. Incidentally, the Countus Fattening Pigs Index has only recently risen above the long-term average and is at 111,4 points at the beginning of May. The yield of the fattening pig farmer, however, lags considerably behind that of the multipliers.

With pig prices leveling off around Easter, the Index is now slowing down, but the upward trend is expected to resume soon. Meanwhile, the pig prices weather and historically, the ceiling has not yet been reached. In addition, the price of fattening pig chunks is expected to fall further.

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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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