§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the average price paid to producers for top quality bacon pigs over the last available quarterly period, and the preceding seven quarters; and what estimate he has made of the average cost of producing such pigs assuming a weaner cost 241W of £5, feed conversion at 3.5, and labour and overheads at approximately £2 per pig.
§ Mr. HoyA large proportion of the pigs sold for bacon is purchased by curers under annual contracts, and the prices and terms offered vary as between curers. For such pigs it is not possible to give the information required on a quarterly basis.
Some pigs are, however, purchased by curers on terms varying according to weekly price lists. Average prices paid are shown by quarters in the table below. Prices paid for pigs sold in this way are on average lower than for pigs purchased under contracts.
In addition to the prices paid by curers, producers received guarantee payments, and for top quality pigs, which for this purpose are assumed to be pigs which are graded AA+, quality premiums as well.
Quarter Market price Deficiency payment and quality premium (per score deadweight) Total return 1964 s. d. s. d. s. d. January-March 41 0¾ 5 7¾ 46 8½ April-June 33 11¼ 12 10½ 46 9¾ July-September 36 4½ 11 7½ 48 0 October-December 38 9½ 7 3½ 46 1 1965 January-March 36 3¼ 8 11 45 2¼ April-June 31 7¾ 12 11¼ 44 7 July-September 32 9 12 9¾ 45 6¾ October-December 35 9¾ 9 6¾ 45 4½ On the stated assumptions regarding costs and feed conversion rates, the cost of producing such pigs would be about £15 10s. per pig.