Edition Bobbett1. Texts by Elizabeth F. Bobbett: 1.1.3. Correspondence, Letters to newspapers
1954 Elizabeth Bobbett: Letter to the Irish Press, 23.09.1954
Pig Prices1
Dear Sir. In the daily paper of 16th September the Statistics Returns for Crops and Livestock taken on June 1st were given, and shows that pigs have increased by 64.900 since last year, to 946.700 this year.
On the same page is reported the Department of Agriculture report on agricultural conditions for August. This states "Large supplies of fat pigs were on offer during the month and numbers received at bacon factories were higher than for the same period last year. Demand showed little change, but prices dropped slightly with the increased number on offer." It would be interesting to know how these reports are compiled – is it from the consumers' point of view?
Here are the facts from the producers' side: When the Pigs and Bacon agreement was made with Britain in 1951 it was agreed that Britain would purchase all available supplies of pigs as well as bacon, and that pork could be sent instead of live pigs if agreed on. Several times since then our farmers have been urged to increase pig production and it has been stated that Britain would take all the bacon we could supply. Now we are told that Britain wants pork and not bacon, and it seems to me that our farmers are again being used to supply cheap food to Britain and at the same time our consumers are being charged far too high prices for bacon and pig products.
The following list of prices taken from the daily papers will show the decline in pig prices, which cannot be classed “slight drop”. In the last week of April the advertised prices were quoted for different weights in five grades varying from 1 cwt to 2 cwt dead weight, the price for the light pig from 234/- per cwt dead weight to 200/- per cwt dead weight. For the 2 cwt pig, on the same date the most favoured weight, wanted was for the 1 cwt 15 lb to 1 cwt 2 qrts 7 lbs at 238/- per cwt. Now on 15th September the prices are quoted for four grades from 1 cwt 0 qrts 8 lbs to 1 cwt 3 qrts 0 lbs, prices from 200/- per cwt down to 155/- per cwt. It will be noted that pigs of over 1 cwt 3 qrts are not wanted, but if accepted they will be 140/- per cwt dead weight. On the same date the most favoured weight was from 1 cwt 8 lbs to 1 cwt 2 qrts at 200/- per cwt dead weight. It will be seen from these prices that the drop on the light weight pig is from £1-18-0 to £2-17-0 per pig since April, and on the heavier weight the 2 cwt pig a drop of £6 per pig.
Now let us take the prices for sows which are mostly used in the manufacture of sausages, and which by the way are still selling at 2/6 a lb. In April the price for well finished sows was 135/- dead weight per cwt and for unfinished quality 100/-. The price in September for well finished sows was 120/- and for unfinished quality 80/- per cwt dead weight. In the meantime the cost of feeding stuff has gone up. Grain went up £1 per ton recently and Pollard has gone up 14/- to £1 per ton since July. (It got two rises of 10/- and the recent rise of £3-10-0).
Pigs and poultry were always the side line for the small holder and cottager. Poultry has vanished and it looks as if pigs will follow suit if something is not done to have a just price paid to producers. Here are facts from a recent trial in feeding: Four bonhams bought on 1st June for £19; they were about 7 or 10 weeks. Meals purchased totalled 17 cwt. Cost: £26-3-0; cost of pigs and meal, £45-3-0. Pigs sold on scales at 140/- live weight, 42-7-0. Sold on 13th September. Loss on four pigs, £2-16-0.
This does not include what skim milk they got nor leave anything towards labour costs. Had the prices remained at the April level there would have been a small margin of £2 per head profit.
And yet we hear people say the farmers are doing well!
Yours faithfully, Elizabeth F. Bobbett, Springfield, Kilbride.
1 - The same letter was published in the Wicklow People, 25.09.1954.