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As pig prices continue to run below the cost of production, pig producers have called a crisis meeting to highlight the need for further price rises.
Pig farmers are currently receiving between €1.48/kg and €1.52/kg.
Teagasc figures show that the break-even point for the average pig farmer is €1.54/kg.
The meeting will be held tonight (8 April) in the Barack Obama Plaza just off junction 23 of the M7 motorway, Moneygall, Co Offaly, from 8pm.
Anger
Speaking ahead of the meeting, organised by the IFA pigs committee, chair Tom Hogan said there was a serious amount of frustration and anger among pig farmers.
He said while recent price increases were welcome, it was crucial that they returned to at least break-even levels.
Farmers were seeing increased pressure from creditors as a result of the price rises, according to Hogan.
Hogan warned that even if farmers returned to profitability, it would take several months to clear the backlog of debt accumulated since pig prices went south and feed costs soared over 12 months ago.
Pressure
The Limerick native said the fact weights of slaughtered pigs were back pointed to farmers experiencing cashflow pressure.
Peter Duggan of Bord Bia will be in attendance at the meeting to provide an update on the latest market position.
Hogan said farmers felt there was more money to be returned to them from the market than was currently the case.
Figures he calculated showed a 95kg pig retailed for a combined value of €585, while farmers received just €135 for the same pig at a price of €1.50/kg.
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