Pig producers are under growing financial pressure as farmgate pig prices continue to slide further below the cost of production.
Finished pig prices have fallen by more than 20p/kg in the past year, with the standard pig price (SPP) averaging just 181p/kg deadweight during April.
This puts it roughly 15p/kg below the cost of production based off the 2025 average, and production costs continue to rise.
However, the real impact of falling pig prices on farm businesses will vary depending on the conditions of individual supply chain contracts.
Processing delays at abattoirs have led to pigs being kept on farm longer and average carcass weights lifting by roughly 4kg year on year to average 95kg.
The pork sector has warned that any potential CO2 shortage could create challenges for meat processors, due to its use in the slaughter process for pigs.
The UK depends on imports of CO2 and the government has reportedly been preparing for a potential “worst case scenario” in which conflict in the Middle East disrupts supply routes.
However, ministers have since reiterated that shortages are not a concern “at this moment”.
The National Pig Association (NPA) warned that any disruption to processing could have serious on-farm consequences.