German livestock farmers demand a share of the profits from increased retail prices

Meatpacking plants must fully pass on the profits from rising pork prices to livestock farmers, the Westphalian-Lippe Agricultural Association (WLV) said. This was reported on February 19 by the German agricultural portal TopAgrar.

After several months of rising prices for pork, the association still assesses the economic situation of livestock breeders as very serious. “The recent increase in purchase prices by 5 euro cents per kilogram of carcass weight is only the first step in the right direction. Pig production remains deeply in short supply. Seeing the gravity of the situation, we expect the slaughter companies to pass on 100% of the additional profits from the high prices to the pig producers,” said WLV President Hubertus Behringmeier.

Behringmeier cites the cattle market as an example, where producers get a large share of the profits. The supply of pork has been markedly reduced. Demand will grow thanks to the easing of CORONAVIRUS restrictions, sporting events and folk festivals with gastronomic excesses.

Last week, the price of pork in Germany rose for the first time in many months from €1.20 to €1.25 per kilogram of carcass weight. According to the Westphalian-Lippe Association of Agriculture, the costs of raising pigs are still unrecoverable, but the turnaround in the market is noticeable.