25th May 2026
Farmers in Scotland’s pig industry are facing a combination of financial, processing, disease-control and market pressures, and farming organisations are now openly calling for help and intervention from the Scottish Government.
There is currently an over supply of pig meat in Europe affecting prices.
The main organisation leading the warnings is NFU Scotland, which says the sector is now “fighting for its future”.
The biggest current problems include:
Pig prices have fallen below production costs
Scottish pig farmers say the price they receive for pigs has dropped sharply in recent months while costs remain stubbornly high.
According to NFUS:
Some producers are receiving up to 15% less than the UK Standard Pig Price.
Production costs are estimated at around 188p/kg.
Some pigs are reportedly selling for around 180p/kg or less.
That means many farmers are losing money on every animal sold.
NFUS says some farms are now losing between £700 and £1,000 per sow place annually, with larger farms potentially facing losses above £500,000 a year.
Scotland has very limited slaughtering capacity
One major issue repeatedly highlighted is Scotland’s dependence on a single major pig abattoir at Brechin.
When that plant faces bottlenecks or seasonal constraints, farmers can be left with pigs backing up on farms. Some have had to send pigs south of the border at distressed prices.
This creates several knock-on problems:
higher transport costs
animal welfare concerns
overcrowding on farms
reduced margins
weaker bargaining power for Scottish producers
NFUS argues this shows the Scottish pig sector is structurally vulnerable.
Herd numbers are falling
The financial squeeze is already reducing production.
NFUS estimates Scotland has lost around 10% of its sow herd since the start of 2026 as producers cut numbers simply to survive financially.
That raises fears about:
future Scottish food security
dependence on imported pork
loss of rural jobs
permanent decline of the industry
Disease threats and biosecurity costs
Disease prevention is another major challenge.
The pig disease PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome) affects roughly 40% of Scottish pig herds and costs the UK industry millions annually.
Farmers are also worried about the spread of African Swine Fever across Europe.
This means producers face rising costs for:
biosecurity
monitoring
veterinary treatment
farm management systems
The Scottish Government has provided funding support for disease-control and biosecurity projects.
5. Wider pressures affecting Scottish farming
Pig farmers are also affected by broader agricultural pressures including:
high feed and energy costs
labour shortages
uncertainty after Brexit
concerns over imported meat from trade deals
environmental compliance costs
uncertainty over future agricultural subsidies
Scottish meat producers have expressed concerns that imports from countries such as Brazil, Australia and New Zealand could undercut domestic production standards and prices.
Farmers asking the Scottish Government for assistance
NFU Scotland is calling for:
urgent action on pricing fairness
support for processing capacity
stronger supply-chain cooperation
continued direct financial support
longer-term investment confidence
government action to prevent permanent loss of production capacity
NFUS says action is needed not just from government, but also from retailers and processors.
The Scottish Government has responded more broadly through its new Rural Support Plan and farming budget, promising long-term support and “no cliff edges” in farm payments.
There has also been targeted government funding for pig disease control and technology projects.
However, many farming groups argue that current support is still insufficient given rising costs and falling livestock prices.
There have been pleas for consumers to consider asking for Scottish pork in shops.