German pig prices drop to 1.32 euros a kilo as farmers threaten protests
The slaughter price fell by another eight cents per kilogram. Farmers say they need at least 2.20 euros to break even. Farm groups are urging politicians, slaughterhouses and restaurants to act.
Symbolic image · Photo: Smaack / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Pig farmers in Germany are coming under growing pressure. The slaughter price fell by another eight cents to 1.32 euros per kilogram of carcass weight, according to the Lower Saxony farmers' association Landvolk. Farmers say they need at least 2.20 euros to operate profitably.
"Money is running through the farms' hands," Landvolk vice president Jörn Ehlers said. Liquidity was getting ever tighter, he said: "It can't go on like this!" He called for announced measures to be implemented, including further development of the animal husbandry labeling law, and for restaurants and canteens to serve more German pork.
The pig farmers' interest group ISN and the Westphalia-Lippe farmers' association WLV also sounded the alarm, warning that protests are possible if politicians and market players fail to act. ISN managing director Torsten Staack called the price competition ruinous, saying farmers must meet the highest standards but are paid only world market prices. Most German pork comes from North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony.