Scotland-Decline in pig numbers--.

SCOTLAND-DECLINE IN PIG NUMBERS.

THE Scottish pig breeding herd has suffered a huge decline over the past decade, with the number of sows now little more than 35,000 compared to more than 70,000 in the mid-1990s. Producers have struggled to break even, far less make a profit, in the face of higher costs, not the least of which related to the imposition in the UK of higher welfare standards than elsewhere in the EU.

The issue has frequently been raised at Holyrood, with industry figures stressing the need to retain critical mass in Scotland. Last year the Scottish Government set up a taskforce, but the general view is that little has been achieved since then.

However, the state of the sector was raised at a meeting of the rural affairs committee on Wednesday where Richard Lochhead, the Cabinet secretary for rural affairs, apologised for not being able to progress the recommendations of the taskforce. His hands are largely tied by Brussels, in terms of giving direct financial support. The meeting was also addressed by Dr Chris Brown of Asda, who claimed that there was now a more positive mood among producers with prices appreciably ahead of 12 months ago.

Philip Sleigh, the chairman of NFU Scotland’s pig working group, said: "In recent times, pig producers have had to deal with extreme volatility in the cereals market that provides them with feed for their animals. If this level of volatility is repeated in the coming years then pig producers could once again struggle to be profitable. There is still insufficient margin in the production chain to recoup what has been lost in the past."