Welfare and quality at centre of pig price protest

Scottish producers joined an estimated 500 pig farmers from across the UK in London yesterday to highlight the desperate plight of their sector.

A petition with more than 13,000 signatures was delivered to 10 Downing Street pointing out that farmers are losing an average of £26 on each pig sold for slaughter.

Robin Traquair, chairman of the NFU Scotland pigs committee, said: "We are calling on MPs to recognise the precarious situation Britain's pig farmers are facing through no fault of their own. Government must understand that we cannot have it both ways: producing highest quality pork domestically and then undercutting it with imports produced to lower animal welfare and food safety standards.

"The solution is simple: retailers should increase the price paid to farmers, and consumers can play their part too by checking the label and making sure they buy British pork. Retailers have said they are sympathetic to our plight, but this has not been translated into higher prices. In the meantime, they appear to be waiting for pork to become scarce to force the price up without realising that by the time this happens it will be too late for most British producers."

A recent YouGov survey of 2,000 consumers revealed that 78 per cent of pork and poultry buyers were prepared to pay a little more to cover rising production costs and support British farmers. Only 9 per cent believed that farmers were being paid a fair price by the major retailers.

Yesterday's protest in London was organised by the National Pig Association with support from the British Pig Executive (Bpex). Stewart Houston, chairman of Bpex, said: "We have reached crisis point. Without an increase, farmers stand to lose around £200 million in the next year and many face the prospect of going out of business. Consumers will then lose the choice to buy higher welfare Quality Standard Mark pork, bacon and ham.

"Two-thirds of imported produce would be illegal to rear in the UK as it fails to meet our higher welfare standards."

Richard Longthorp runs a large pig unit in Yorkshire. He said: "We don't want any special treatment. All we are asking for is a fairer share.

"Feed represents at least 50 per cent of our costs and this has gone up massively. Prices are going up but we are not getting a share. If things don't change we will see a lot of farmers going out of business."