Representatives of the British Pig Industry have delivered a petition with more than 13,000 names to Downing Street urging MPs to back their campaign for higher prices.

Farmers and pig industry leaders took the petition to London to raise awareness of claims that the British pig industry is on the verge of extinction. Farmers say they are losing at least £20 on a pig that costs £108 to produce, leading many to consider leaving the sector.

A cross-party Early Day Motion tabled by Richard Bacon MP also called on the government to ensure fair prices were paid by retailers, and that these flowed through the chain. "The British pig industry has the highest animal welfare standards, which we should support," Bacon added. "I have written to supermarkets and processors asking that they do what they can to help secure a fair price for British pig farmers."

BPEX chairman Stewart Houston stressed that farmers stood to lose about £200m in the next year .

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