The German pig industry has called on national and regional governments to increase capacity in slaughterhouses to reduce the growing backlogs.
Due to previously imposed restrictions because of coronavirus infections among personnel, a backlog of tens of thousands of market-ready pigs had already accumulated. This backlog has still not been resolved. Now that African Swine Fever has also been detected in Germany, the country is no longer allowed to export meat, leading to even larger backlogs in the meat industry.
“Pig farmers are currently experiencing an absolute emergency, for which we have been warning ministries, authorities, and others at all levels for weeks and months,” said Mr. Staack of the German industry organization ISN. “This emergency requires special measures from all sides. Everything must be done to ensure that no infarction occurs in the supply chain.”
ISN said that piglet producers and fattening pigs are in 'distress'. Besides the 'disastrous price' situation (in which prices plummeted overnight from €1.47 to €1.27 but have since stabilized), they are struggling with delays in processing animals. As a result, German pig farmers risk being left with overcrowded barns.
“The fact that the corona crisis and the ASF export ban now coincide makes the situation for piglet producers and fattening pigs dramatic,” said Staack. “The current disastrous price situation is fatal. Moreover, if producers of piglets and fattening pigs increasingly are unable to bring their animals to market, the current situation becomes a tangible emergency.” He added that this 'traffic jam' in the slaughter pig market has a domino effect on the sale of piglets.
For weeks, slaughtering in Germany stagnated at around 850,000 to 870,000 pigs per week, a shortfall of about 50,000 per week. “Much more is needed to clear the backlog,” said market expert Matthias Quaing. “The train is running and cannot be stopped anymore. Piglets will continue to be born and raised,” he explained, noting that piglets cannot be housed due to already full manure pens.
“We need to clear the backlog. For this, we need more slaughter and especially cutting capacity – of course taking into account the corona precautionary measures. The fact that slaughterhouses in North Rhine-Westphalia are now allowed by authorities to operate during weekends is a good and important signal,” said the ISN.