In the first quarter of this year, yields for piglets from the Netherlands rose at an arrow-like pace. The Best Piglet Price (BPP) quote increased by 19 euros to 77 euros excluding VAT per piglet. That is well above the cost price per piglet of 70 euros calculated by Wageningen Economic Research. Sow farmers can again eliminate the financial hole that was created last year.

Last year, sow farmers suffered a major cutback because the returns for their piglets were too low compared to the costs. Feed and energy in particular were very expensive, causing the cost price per piglet to rise to 70 euros.

According to calculations by Wageningen Economic Research (WEcR), entrepreneurs paid an average of 50 euros per piglet last year. That amount is excluding VAT for a flock of three hundred piglets weighing 25 kilograms with a weekly liver rhythm and two vaccinations marketed in the Netherlands. As a result, sow farmers added an average of 20 euros per piglet sold in 2022.

The average BPP quotation for 2022 came to 43 euros per 25-kilogram piglet. With a surcharge of 7 euros on this quotation, it is equal to WEcR’s average net yield per piglet.

Quotation is now well above the calculated cost price per piglet

Over the first thirteen weeks of this year, the average BPP quotation comes out at over 67.73 euros per piglet. If the surcharge of 7 euros per piglet is added, the yield price averages 74.73 euros per piglet sold. Per piglet, a sow farmer would then earn almost 5 euros above the average cost price, which should enable him to strengthen his farm’s liquidity position.

The year began with a BPP quote of 56.50 euros. In week number 13, it is 77 euros, an increase of 36 percent. The spectacular increase is due to further shrinking piglet production in the Netherlands and other EU countries such as Germany and Denmark.

In addition, the Spanish pig market needs foreign piglets.

Source:  Nieuweoogst.nl