Sale ‘a sad comment’ on state of pig industry

Buyers gather for a Crichtons sale at Eastern Pig Contractors Ltd at Martlesham on Saturday, May 16. Pig farmer Ian Johnson decided to quit the industry as it became less and less financially viable for him to continue. Auctioneer Peter Crichton conducts the sale. (Image: Archant)

Buyers came from as far as Yorkshire for the farm auction after pig farmer Ian Johnson of Martlesham Piggeries, Newbourne Road, decided to quit the industry because the business had become increasingly uneconomic.

Having decided it wasn’t financially worthwhile investing in the piggery’s infrastructure, Mr Johnson felt there was no longer enough to be made from it to make it viable.

“We have decided that we can no longer farm pigs economically here,” said Mr Johnson. “The pig industry continues to go through tough times and we have in effect cut back.”

Auctioneer Peter Crichton, who conducted the sale of his equipment from a 4,000 place indoor pig finishing unit, including pig equipment and farm machinery, said there was a good turnout of buyers.

Buyers gather for a Crichtons sale at Eastern Pig Contractors Ltd at Martlesham on Saturday, May 16. Pig farmer Ian Johnson decided to quit the industry as it became less and less financially viable for him to continue. (Image: Archant)

But he described it as “a sad comment” on the current state of the UK pig industry “because Ian Johnson was a very switched on bright operator”.

“However the volatility of the UK pig industry has, once again, persuaded a valuable member of the supply chain to diversify into industrial and commercial premises, which seem to have a much brighter future,” he said.

The auction included a selection of tractors, loaders and farm machinery with a top price of £15,200 paid for a 1998 JCB 3185 Fastrac with 8,926 hours on the clock

But Mr Crichton said demand for pig equipment was more selective, reflecting the current state of the industry, with six tonne glass fibre bulk bins selling to £900, eight tonne Chore Time bins to £500, 10 tonne Roxell bins to £550 and auto-feed systems to £320 per set.

Buyers gather for a Crichtons sale at Eastern Pig Contractors Ltd at Martlesham on Saturday, May 16. Pig farmer Ian Johnson decided to quit the industry as it became less and less financially viable for him to continue. (Image: Archant)