Background Coronavirus
Swap pigs for the gag in the market
The turmoil in the pig market is increasing. A number of slaughterhouses are struggling with an export ban to China and Tönnies will remain closed until at least 17 July. The pig supply is piling up and it is more difficult to find outlets. How bad is the situation in the Netherlands?
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The closure of the Tönnies factory in Rheda-Wiedenbrück is causing a lot of unrest on the market. The location has been closed since June 17 and the factory will not resume operations before July 17. Due to the loss of this sales option, the pig supply continues to shrink.
According to Jan Vernooij, chairman of the sector committee for the Pig and Piglet Trade and exporters within Livestock & Logistics, around 30.000 pigs go to Germany every week. These sales have virtually come to a standstill. It is reported that approximately 80.000 to 100.000 are currently hanging above the market and the slaughter activities are half a week behind.
Collegiality
Not every pig farmer is faced with an oversupply due to the situation, but every pig farmer in the Netherlands notices that there are problems. Vernooij emphasizes that companies offer each other help where possible. "Companies that supply Tönnies lose a large sales opportunity and can hardly sell their pigs. The collegiality within the sector is enormous and colleagues take over pigs where possible, but this only provides minimal relief."
Filling stopper stables
Filling the already empty stables of stoppers could be a solution for temporary housing for pigs and piglets. Vernooij is also in favor of this option, but he seriously doubts whether the idea will be approved. "I think it's a very good idea, but I think there will be a lot of resistance. If the situation had been even more pressing, for example due to an outbreak of a contagious animal disease, then there would be an even greater need and approval might have been sooner." are in favor of the concept," says Vernooij
Extra slaughter day
Calling on slaughterhouses to add an extra slaughter day on Saturday is also a possible solution to provide relief to the market. According to Vernooij, the slaughterhouses are also willing to put in extra hours in order to expand sales options. "Organizations such as POV, COV and Livestock & Logistics have weekly joint consultations about the situation. I am busy taking stock of the trade and the slaughterhouses and brand slaughterhouses are open to working extra hours. Also on the request for more flexible to deal with inspection requests, the response is positive."