Fears for pig industry (From Malvern Gazette)

Fears for pig industry

5:20pm Thursday 1st May 2008 in News By Robert Hale

LIB Dem parliamentary candidate Richard Burt visited Lawn Farm in Welland to highlight concerns about the plight of the pig farming industry.

Due to feed costs doubling in the past eighteen months, farmers are losing an average of £26 per pig, forcing many into financial difficulty and pushing some out of pig farming all together.

Farmer Roger Cousins said: "The British pig industry is on the verge of vanishing. Feed prices have doubled and farmers are losing money for every pig that is raised.

"Consumers both in Worcestershire and across the country have said that they are happy to pay more for their pork, but if the farmers don't get a fair price for their pigs many will struggle to carry on in business at all.

Richard Burt said: "I have great sympathy with hard pressed pig farmers and will do all I can to highlight the plight of the industry and to encourage local supermarkets and abattoirs to give our farmers a fair price for our pork."