UK Market:   Week Ending:  26/7/08   Week Number:  30

This week Last week Change Average for year Top of year Bottom of year This week last year DAPP EU 135.60 135.05 +0.61 118.29 135.60 110.31 109.99 DAPP UK 133.20 132.66 +0.54 116.30 133.20 108.57 108.26 AQM Av. Basket 139.25 139.03 +0.22 119.79 139.25 105.96 110.83 AQM Five 139.11 138.72 +0.39 121.60 139.11 111.55 112.88 Notes DAPP up 0.61p/kg. DAPP is still increasing, however spot trade is very much stand on although pigs are in very short supply; we understand that european prices are increasing . The Euro strengthening against the pound is assisting in exports and hindering imports. It is reasonable to assume that prices will increase again soon. For the most up to date position please ring Richard Doel on 01763 241222 or 07831 107904 or email him at richard.doel@aqm.co.uk ULS, AQM and YFLM prices published on this site are subject to amendment at any time without notice. Any changes will only be posted here on the Extranet. All prices issued for pigs are in p/kg and relate to EU dressing specification unless indicated otherwise.   Average Spot (Bacon) 138.80 138.72 +0.08 118.30 138.72 103.25 110.71 Notes STOP PRESS No 1 !!!- Go to Extranet, Industry Downloads, Commercial Results..................................... qboxanalysis - for the producer - One producer near Diss in Norfolk has improved his financial position by over £5 per pig this year SOLELY by increasing the percentage 'in spec' (Qbox) from 72.38% in 2006 to 86.60% 2007. With all the other pressures on margins this sort of improvement could be a lifesaver. Speak to Richard Doel on 07831 107904 for further details. STOP PRESS No 2 !!!- IPPC application, Contact the Environment Agency (08708 506506) or Nigel Penlington at BPEX (01908 844276).   Average Spot (Cutter) 139.66 139.92 -0.26 120.19 139.92 103.50 110.36 Notes Cheales operates a sow payment based on weight classification as follows, more than 160kgs 115p/kg 140 to 159kgs 113p/kg 120 to 139kgs 111p/kg   Cull Sow 111.00 106.00 +5.00 86.70 111.00 64.00 67.00

EU Market:

This week Last week Change Average for year Top of year Bottom of year This week last year Holland 137.45 130.48 +6.97 112.99 137.90 94.38 98.31 Germany 141.44 134.44 +7.00 115.39 141.44 94.38 101.70 Belgium 136.65 132.06 +4.59 113.11 136.65 93.67 99.67 France 138.24 136.81 +1.43 112.57 138.24 91.52 96.28 Denmark 107.88 106.76 +1.12 94.22 108.41 77.94 81.36 Spain 135.85 132.06 =3.79 116.30 135.85 92.24 107.12

Weekly Tribune Quoted Prices:   Week Ending:  19.7.08   Week Number:  29

This week Last week Change Average for year Top of year Bottom of year This week last year GB Bacon 139.94 139.94 0.00 117.36 140.25 97.93 109.50 GB Cutter 142.40 142.40 0.00 121.41 142.40 107.60 112.00 GB Cull Sow 109.16 106.50 +2.67 86.81 109.16 63.50 63.58

UK Slaughtering Information:

-4 Months -3 Months -2 Months -1 Month Latest Month This week last year % Change Clean Pigs 884000 732000 700000 892000 644000 680000 -5.30 Sows 28000 23000 21000 25000 17000 15000 +13.33 Steers 91000 81000 80000 100000 76000 81000 -6.05 Heifers 78000 66000 62000 80000 57000 59000 -3.39 Young Bulls 25000 20000 18000 26000 23000 26000 -11.54 Cows & Adult Bulls 53000 43000 36000 44000 33000 29000 +13.7 Calves 3000 2000 2000 3000 2000 1000 +100.00 Sheep & Lambs 1420000 1064000 1025000 1106000 795000 901000 -11.77 Ewes & Rams 219000 183000 166000 208000 154000 155000 -0.65 Comment Latest monthly slaughter figures are for May 2008. Year on year - It is evident that the breeding herd of both cattle and pigs is falling. Pigs - Sows slaughterings up 13.33% against the same time last year Cattle - Cow slaughterings up 13.7% RESULT - shortages, of prime pigmeat and beef, become more dramatic as we go into the autumn

Weaner Market Comment:

AHDB prices for weaners - Eastern Region at an average of 30kgs liveweight in £/head. Week ending 5th July 2008 Weaner prices continue to reflect the upcoming scarcity of numbers with the 30kg ex farm average now quoted at £39.45 and premiums of £1 - £2/head above this available for tail docked EP vaccinated lots. Please contact: AQM Royston office on 01763-241222 or e-mail richard.doel@aqm.co.uk or YFLM Malton office on 01653-697941 or e-mail chris@barlowyf.fsnet.co.uk

Finished Pig Market Comment:

THE BRITISH PIG HEALTH SCHEME The British Pig Health Scheme has published the dates (Jan to June 2007) when the health of pigs will be assessed at specific abattoirs. If you wish to have your pigs assessed please speak to Richard Doel - if you wish to view the dates and abattoirs, on this AQM website, please go into 'Extranet and click on 'Industry Downloads' Conversely you can access the information at http://www.bpex.org/bphs/Assessment_Days.asp IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) (Source: Pork Chain Solutions) Pig farms with over 750 breeding sow places producing weaners or 2,000 finishing places over 30kgs will have to comply by early 2007. For a typical breeding and feeding unit this equates to a herd size of around 350-400 sows, depending on performance levels as shown below. Calculated herd size at various levels of productivity for a Breeding & Feeding unit to meet the current IPPC threshold of 2,000 finishing pig places............ Number of weeks accommodation from 30kgs to finish ------- 11------ 12------ 13----- 14---- 15------- Pigs/sow/year 18---- 525---- 481---- 444---- 413---- 385---- 20---- 473---- 433---- 400---- 371---- 347---- 22---- 430---- 394---- 364---- 338---- 315---- 24---- 394---- 361---- 333---- 310---- 289---- 26---- 364---- 333---- 308---- 286---- 267---- Notes: The threshold is based on the NUMBER OF PIG PLACES, not actual stock numbers, for pigs over 30 kgs, and in the above calculations the number of weeks of available accommodation has been used to express this. For a given situation this will be determined by growth rate, sale weight, and resting time between batches. If in doubt the NPA may be able to help – Tel:02476 472861 Additionally you can get in touch with ‘Pork Chain Solutions’ which organisation is an authority on the IPPC legislation. Their contact is: Nick White – Tel: 01543 472861 SLAPMARKING !! Pigs Producers – Please act now and for ever ! Please check regularly the cleanliness and condition of your slapmarking equipment: • The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) may use their powers to bin the pigs not correctly identified, as unsuitable for human consumption, at a total loss to the producer. • If the problem becomes more widespread the EU will insist that all pigs are tagged. The solution is in your hands – SLAP PIGS PROPERLY! It is your responsibility! Tel 01763 241222

Sheep Market Information:

This week Last week Change Average for year Top of year Bottom of year This week last year SQQ 126.13 140.37 -14.24 172.30 193.01 86.16 110.16 Av. Deadweight 291.81 311.49 -19.68 303.60 397.14 201.08 163.60

Sheep Market Comment:

NB.: SQQ Prices quoted are in respect of New Season Lamb (NSL). Deadweight price, in pence per kilo, is the published average price of all lambs. Prices quoted relate to the average for week ending 12.7.08 (Source AHDB via EBLEX - from only 22% of the total lambs killed deadweight). Prices New Season lamb volumes are picking up but prices encouragingly are holding well. Lamb volumes will get worse, later than last year, partly because of Blue Tongue restrictions. Please ring or email, Tim Leigh (07850 366404 - tim.leigh@aqm.co.uk) or Philip Robins (07917 603354 - philip.robins@aqm.co.uk)

Cattle Market Information:

This week Last week Change This week last year Av. GB Live Price 145.00 147.32 -2.32 110.54 Av. Deadweight (UK) 262.80 264.47 -1.67 199.43 OCDS Rate Per Head (All Cattle) £231.34 £231.34 0.00 £220.45 Cows (post August 1996) 215.00 215.00 0.00 147.00

Cattle Market Comment:

Prices quoted (except Cows) are the average for the week ending 12.7.08. Average Deadweight prices (shown as pence per kilo except where stated) for the average for Southern England. Source AHDB via EBLEX. Retail demand is poor at present although the supply of cattle is much lower than last year; this is leading to prices at best standing on with some coming back by 3p to 5p per kilo. Those standing on are smaller one not relying on supermarkets - Some slaughterhouses serving the large supermarkets have reduced their killing programmes due to the relatively weak retail demand. Please ring or email, Malcolm Evans (07831 107903 - malcolm.evans@aqm.co.uk), Tim Leigh (07850 366404 - tim.leigh@aqm.co.uk) or Philip Robins (07917 603354 - philip.robins@aqm.co.uk) IMPORTANT ALL CATTLE MUST HAVE 2 TAGS WHEN BEING MOVED FROM FARM TO FARM OR FOR SLAUGHTER • The regulations regarding Cattle Identification were updated on the 6th April 2007. • Decisions regarding difficulties in identification at the slaughterhouse are now covered under the Food Hygiene Regulations operated by the Food Standards Agency. • Cattle sent for slaughter without tags will usually be destroyed, at the discretion of the Official Veterinary Surgeon (OVS) at the Abattoir, with no payment and a possible penalty for the further disposal of the carcase. When booking cattle please be certain to notify us of any over 30 month cattle as strict rules govern the transport and slaughter !!!!! Please note : • Not every abattoir can slaughter over 30 month old cattle • Eligible abattoirs may only slaughter at specific times during the week • Over 30 month old cattle must travel separately to others. If a beast of over 30 months is delivered with other stock to an abattoir it may be condemned or have its value reduced. Please be sure to keep us informed exactly, regarding the age of cattle when you book. New Emergency Slaughter Rules Warning Some cattle may be prevented from entering the human food chain and become worthless in the wake of new EU-wide hygiene rules on emergency slaughter introduced from January 1, 2006, warns the English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX). The new legislation, which allows only healthy and clean animals to be submitted for slaughter for human consumption, means cattle that are diseased or injured may have to be slaughtered on farm as emergencies without payment. While such stock could previously be disposed of through the OTMS, this will no longer be possible. Where an animal has suffered a genuine accident and has to be slaughtered on welfare grounds the legislation does allow them to enter the food chain following an inspection on farm by a veterinary surgeon. Decisions, in conjunction with your vet, will have to be made for animals that have not suffered a genuine accident. They will need to be fit for human consumption and be fit to be transported. For animals to be acceptable for the food chain from January 1, in addition to being clean and meeting the statutory withdrawal periods for veterinary medicines they must be deemed fit for human consumption. This means showing no diseases or conditions that may affect public health. Additionally, stock must be fit to travel. Stock that is not fit for travel, and not fit for the food chain or for on-farm slaughter for the food chain will have to be disposed of as fallen stock. These new hygiene regulations make it even more essential for English dairy and beef producers to plan and manage their post-OTMS culling strategies with particular care to maximise their cull cow returns and minimise their replacement costs; especially so if they have routinely been culling a significant proportion of their stock for ill-health. Alongside the better finishing and overall presentation of cull cows for slaughter, EBLEX advises all concerned to avoid consigning sick animals for the human food chain as well as to secure veterinary certification of fitness to travel for any stock of doubtful health status. Where animals are not fit to be transported without unnecessary suffering and are to be consigned for the human food chain as genuine emergencies, producers are further advised to establish their abattoir is prepared to accept them ahead of time and ensure animals slaughtered on-farm are accompanied by a veterinary surgeon’s ante-mortem inspection declaration, citing the reason for the emergency slaughter. Practical advice on meeting the requirements of the new legislation is available in a special leaflet on emergency slaughter which was sent to all cattle producers in October 2005. A more detailed booklet from the BCVA, NFU, FSA and Rural Affairs Departments is available by telephoning 0845 606 0667.

For Sale:   Last Updated:  18.7.08

AQM offer a professional secure supply of livestock from known selected suppliers. For Sale - 150 ewes to sell Texel Mules – thaves or double thaves Good condition – indicated price about £80 Reason for sale - change of farm business plan Also Suffolk Rams available. Store Cattle available occasionally but at this time of year most store purchases have been completed in the early summer, but if you do require store cattle please ring Malcolm Evans on 07831 107903. Reared calves supplied from professional calf rearing units through our strong relationship with Peter Jones Livestock. Store lambs and breeding sheep normally available New livestock suppliers welcomed IF YOU WANT TO ADVERTISE HERE FREE CONTACT THE ROYSTON OFFICE ON 01763-241222 To take advantage as a buyer or seller of AQM's services please contact: Malcolm Evans: 07831107903 regarding Cattle Tim Leigh: 07850366404 regarding lambs or Philip Robins: 07917603354 regarding both species

Wanted:   Last Updated:  18.7.08

Wanted - 200 lambs, about August time, To rear to order, and to be returned as Thaves the following year as ewe replacements, ready to go to the tup. This is envisaged as a regular routine with someone who wants replacements from a known source and reared to his specifications. Breeding Heifers Bulling Heifers - Belgian Blue X Holstein or better Simmental and/or South Devon Suckler breeding heifers or breeding cows Store Stock - Good quality continental cross store stock - steers and heifers. Cull Stock of all classes - Cows, Ewes and Sows Please ring Malcolm Evans (07831 107903), Tim Leigh (07850 366404) or Philip Robins (07917 603354)

Disclaimer: All information on the AQM website, or contained in the Newsletter, is supplied by known sources but is not necessarily the opinion of Anglia Quality Meat Association Ltd or any company associated with AQM or this website specifically. All information, particularly in the Marketing Report, should be treated as a guide and should not be relied upon as a trading recommendation. Every effort has been made to ensure all information supplied is of a fair and honest nature.