Deadweight pig price reporting: Information and FAQs

The average weekly prices, paid by abattoirs, for clean pigs classified as E, S and R that fall into specific weight bands across the UK. Any UK abattoir, which kills more than 500 clean pigs per week, is required under legislation to provide their weekly kill information for inclusion in the UK reference prices. They are reported in pence per kg deadweight and cover the previous week (Monday to Sunday). It is important to note that these prices include both standard and non-standard pigs.

The average weekly price, paid by abattoirs, for standard clean pigs across GB. It is reported in pence per kg deadweight and covers the previous week (Monday to Sunday). The specification of the UK reference prices provides the basis of the SPP. Several abattoirs supplement their weekly kill information with a flag indicating whether a pig is standard or non-standard. This voluntary piece of information is used to segment the data and produce the SPP.

The average weekly price, paid to producers, for both standard and non-standard clean pigs across GB. This price is reported in pence per kg deadweight and covers two weeks prior (Monday to Sunday). Participation in the APP is voluntary.

The UK reference prices are the average weekly prices, paid by abattoirs, for clean pigs classified as E, S and R. They are reported in pence per kg deadweight and cover the previous week (Monday to Sunday). It is important to note that, unlike the SPP, these prices include both standard and non-standard pigs.

Any UK abattoir, which kills more than 500 clean pigs per week, is required to provide information for the UK reference prices. These prices are reported to Defra for ongoing monitoring on the market.

The reference prices cover pigs traded across the UK.

All abattoirs killing over 500 clean pigs a week supply their weekly kill data, by individual pig, which includes the weight, probe, sex, kill date, grade, kill reference and pence per kg.

The prices reported are based on individual lines of pig information. They are the gross prices paid to producers, in pence per kg deadweight, for the net cold weight for an EU dressing specification. It is the price before a) any below the line deductions such as transport, insurance, lorry wash, meat inspection and levies, b) any compensation payments for weight or overnight slaughter delays and c) payments for procurement. The reference prices do not include any bonuses, such as level delivery, paid in arrears.

A price might be a weekly deadweight spot prices or prices based on contract formulae.

The following payments are included in the reference prices:

• level delivery bonus paid on slaughter
• sex bonus
• RSPCA Assured bonus
• any bonuses paid due to special rearing or feeding programmes
• outdoor reared and outdoor born bonus
• rare breed bonus
• antibiotic free bonus
• compensation for additional haulage
• any bonuses to incentivise delivery times

Abattoirs are required to provide all pigs which meet the above criteria. They are not permitted to only supply a selection of their data.

Finally, part-condemned pigs are included with an adjusted price. The pence per kg is reported as the total price paid divided by the actual weight of the carcase.

The reference prices do not include:

• liveweight purchases
• sows
• breeding boars
• fully condemned pigs
• organic pigs
• free-range pigs
• within company traded pigs or any pigs in which the processor retains some legal interest
• contract kills where an abattoir is paid a fee to kill a pig with no sale taking place
• any bonus not paid at time of slaughter (e.g. level delivery etc.)
• overnight payments to adjust for weight loss

A ‘below the line’ deduction is a small and insignificant cost compared to the value of the carcase which is not allowed for in the price. Typical below the line deductions are transport, insurance, lorry wash, meat inspection and levies.

Prices are reported for all pigs that are classified as E, S and R and fall into specific weight categories. In the UK, most pigs are classified as S and only a very few are R.

The below table outlines the lean meat percentage and weight bands reported.

Please note that the reference prices are therefore a subset of the total pigs slaughtered each week.

Yes, all pigs that are classified as E, S or R and fall into the specified weight bands are included in the reference prices.

Each abattoir reports the pence per kg deadweight for every individual pig slaughtered in the previous week (Monday to Sunday). The reference prices are simple averages of all the pigs, reported to us, that are classified as E, S and R and fall into specific weight categories.

Part-condemned pigs are included with an adjusted price. The pence per kg is reported as the total price paid divided by the actual weight of the carcase.

The data is handled by a team of trained analysts who, using their expertise, validate it through several checks. If necessary, data is queried directly with the abattoirs to ensure it is robust and representative. 

In addition, the abattoirs are subject to audits. The Rural Payments Agency, DAERA or the Scottish Government conduct quarterly audits to ensure the data provided to us meets the correct specification.

The SPP is a survey which shows the average price, in pence per kg deadweight, paid by abattoirs for pigs in the previous week (Monday to Sunday). It is important to note that it only includes clean standard pigs and participation is voluntary. Prices are reported for EU and UK dressing specifications.

A ’standard’ pig is a pig on which no explicit premium, other than weight and grade, is paid for a specific attribute.

A ‘non-standard’ pig is a pig on which premiums are paid for certain production systems, feed regimes or breeds (including RSPCA Assured, rare breed, outdoor reared and outdoor bred).

Please note that the price does not determine whether a pig is standard or non-standard.

A clean pig is a pig that has not been used for breeding.

The SPP covers pigs traded across Great Britain.

The SPP was launched in July 2014.

The following abattoirs supplement the weekly kill data they provide for the UK reference prices with a flag which indicates whether a pig is standard or non-standard. This voluntary piece of information is used to segment the data and produce the SPP.

The SPP is published on our website or via email subscription each Wednesday for the previous week (Monday to Sunday). If you would like to receive our weekly SPP Prices report by email each week, please visit our keeping in touch page to subscribe.

Approximately, between 70,000 and 85,000 pigs are included in the SPP each week.

The price reported is based on individual lines of standard pig information. It is the gross price paid to producers, in pence per kg deadweight, for the net cold weight for an EU spec dressing specification. It is the price before a) any below the line deductions such as transport, insurance, lorry wash, meat inspection and levies, b) any compensation payments for weight or overnight slaughter delays and c) payments for procurement. It also does not include any bonuses, such as level delivery, paid in arrears.

A price might be a weekly deadweight spot prices or prices based on contract formulae.

The following payments are included in the SPP:

• level delivery bonus paid on slaughter
• sex bonus
• antibiotic free bonus
• compensation for additional haulage
• any bonuses to incentivise delivery times

Please note abattoirs are required to provide all standard pigs which meet the above criteria. They are not permitted to only supply a selection of their data.

Finally, part-condemned pigs are included with an adjusted price. The pence per kg is reported as the total price paid divided by the actual weight of the carcase.

The SPP does not include:

• non-standard pigs
• liveweight purchases
• sows
• breeding boars
• fully condemned pigs
• organic pigs
• free-range pigs
• within company traded pigs or any pigs in which the processor retains some legal interest
• contract kills where an abattoir is paid a fee to kill a pig with no sale taking place
• any bonus not paid at time of slaughter (e.g. level delivery, etc.)
• overnight payments to adjust for weight loss

A ’below the line’ deduction is a small and insignificant cost compared to the value of the carcase which is not allowed for in the price. Typical below the line deductions are transport, insurance, lorry wash, meat inspection and levies.

Yes, the SPP includes pigs of all weights. Our weekly SPP prices report shows the average weight of the pigs in the sample as well as the price by weight band. If you would like to receive our weekly SPP prices report by email each week, please visit our keeping in touch page to subscribe.

Yes, the SPP includes the prices of all pigs which meet the criteria of a standard pig.

The definition of whether a pig is standard or non-standard is based upon the production system. The price paid to the producer is a commercial matter between the buyer and seller.

Pigs which attract premiums for their production system would be classed as “non-standard” and therefore excluded from the SPP.

Each abattoir reports the pence per kg deadweight for every individual pig slaughtered in the previous week (Monday to Sunday). The SPP is then a simple average of all the standard pigs reported to us.

Part-condemned pigs are included with an adjusted price. The pence per kg is reported as the total price paid divided by the actual weight of the carcase.

The data is handled by a team of trained analysts who, using their expertise, validate it through several checks. If necessary, data is queried directly with the abattoirs to ensure it is robust and representative. 

In addition, the abattoirs are subject to several audits. We check pigs are correctly classified as standard or non-standard and either the Rural Payments Agency or the Scottish Government conduct quarterly audits to ensure the data provided to us meets the specification for the UK reference prices. The reference prices have a very similar specification to the SPP. Please refer to the UK reference price section for further details.

The APP sits alongside the SPP and is a survey which shows the average price, in pence per kg deadweight, paid to producers for clean pigs two weeks prior (Monday to Sunday). Participation in the APP is voluntary. It is important to note that, unlike the SPP, the price includes both standard and non-standard pigs. Prices are reported for EU and UK dressing specifications.

A clean pig is a pig that has not been used for breeding.

A ’standard’ pig is a pig on which no explicit premium, other than weight and grade, is paid for a specific attribute.

A ’non-standard’ pig is a pig on which premiums are paid for certain production systems, feed regimes or breeds (including RSPCA Assured, rare breed, outdoor reared and outdoor bred).

Please note that the price does not determine whether a pig is standard or non-standard.

The APP covers pigs traded across Great Britain.

The APP was launched in July 2014.

The following producers and marketing groups supply their weekly kill data, by individual pig, which includes the weight, probe, sex and pence per kg deadweight.

The APP is published on our website or via email subscription each Wednesday for two weeks prior (Monday to Sunday). If you would like to receive our weekly APP prices report by email each week, please visit our keeping in touch page to subscribe.

Approximately, between 70,000 and 80,000 pigs are included in the APP each week.

The price reported is based on individual lines of pig information. It is the gross price paid to producers, in pence per kg deadweight, for the net cold weight for EU. It is the price before a) any below the line deductions such as transport, insurance, lorry wash, meat inspection and levies, b) any compensation payments for weight or overnight slaughter delays and c) payments for procurement. It also does not include any bonuses, such as level delivery, paid in arrears.

The APP includes both standard and non-standard pigs.  

A price might be a weekly deadweight spot prices or prices based on contract formulae.

The following payments are included in the APP:

• level delivery bonus paid on slaughter
• sex bonus
• RSPCA Assured bonus
• any bonuses paid due to special rearing or feeding programmes
• outdoor reared and outdoor born bonus
• rare breed bonus
• antibiotic free bonus
• compensation for additional haulage
• any bonuses to incentivise delivery times, where possible

Please note producers/marketing groups are required to provide all standard and non-standard pigs which meet the above criteria. They are not permitted to only supply a selection of their data.

Finally, part-condemned pigs are included with an adjusted price. The pence per kg is reported as the total price paid divided by the actual weight of the carcase.

The APP does not include:

• liveweight purchases
• sows
• breeding boars
• fully condemned pigs
• organic pigs
• free-range pigs
• within company traded pigs or any pigs in which the processor retains some legal interest
• contract kills where an abattoir is paid a fee to kill a pig with no sale taking place
• any bonus not paid at time of slaughter (e.g. level delivery etc.)
• overnight payments to adjust for weight loss

A ‘below the line’ deduction is a small and insignificant cost compared to the value of the carcase and not allowed for in the price. Typical below the line deductions are transport, insurance, lorry wash, meat inspection and levies.

Yes, the APP includes pigs of all weights. Our weekly APP Prices report shows the average weight of the pigs in the sample as well as the price by weight band. If you would like to receive our APP Prices report by email each week, please visit our keeping in touch page to subscribe.

Yes, the APP includes the prices of all pigs which meet the criteria of a standard or non-standard pig.

Each producer/marketing group reports the pence per kg deadweight for every individual pig slaughtered two weeks prior (Monday to Sunday). The APP is then a simple average of all the standard pigs reported to us.

Part-condemned pigs are included with an adjusted price. The pence per kg is reported as the total price paid divided by the actual weight of the carcase.

The data is handled by a team of trained analysts who, using their expertise, validate it through several checks. If necessary, data is queried directly with the abattoirs to ensure it is robust and representative. 

In addition, AHDB conducts annual audits to ensure the data provided to us meets the APP specification.