Prices give piggeries a leg-up

AS the pig industry prepares to commemorate the centenary of stud breeding in Australia, pig producers are still smiling, thanks to handy prices over the past few months.

South Australian Farmers' Federation pork committee chairman Butch Moses said producers fared well during the usual April/May trough period in the market.

"There wasn't a hard drop in prices over Easter, which is what normally happens," he said.

"While there has been downward movement in prices, it hasn't been as severe as in the past." While prices remained healthy, market highs had now passed.

"Things have been very, very good, but I don't think we'll see that being maintained," Mr Moses said.

"If the $A keeps picking up, that will encourage more imports."

He said producers should be concerned that New Zealand was allowing imports of fresh pigmeat.

"I suspect there are a number of countries who would love to be able to get into Australia," he said.

* Extract from Pig Industry News special in Stock Journal, June 25 issue.