September pig slaughter only slightly up

By Bethan Wilkins

UK pig slaughter was only marginally up on the year in September, increasing by 10,300 head to 910,100 head overall. Considering there was an extra week day in September this year, slaughter was not particularly high in the month, confirming our previous suggestion that our estimated slaughter numbers have been high in recent weeks. These will now be revised downwards.

Throughput in England and Wales rose by 1% compared with September 2019. However, increases in other regions were larger. Scottish throughput rose by 8% and 2% more clean pigs were slaughtered in Northern Ireland.

For the third quarter overall, slaughter was 1% higher than in 2019, a smaller increase than we expected in the July Agri-Market Outlook. We will examine this in more detail in the next week or so. For the year to date, slaughter is also 1% up on 2019.

The number of sows and boars culled in September was 22,700, up 16% from the 2019 level. An increase this year is expected as slaughter was low last year, meaning the age profile of the herd will be higher. Lower than usual response rates to Defra's survey continue though, which may affect classification of animals within species compared to last year.

Clean pig carcase weights in the latest month reached 87.1kg, the highest on record. Delays to slaughter have meant extra weight has been added to animals, though there has also been an intentional move to heavier weights in recent years. Pigs in September were therefore 2.5kg heavier than in the same month in 2019.

Given the rise in slaughter combined with the increase in pig weight, pig meat production in September totalled 82,600 tonnes. This was an increase of 5% compared with the same month last year.

Year to date pig meat production now stands at 724,300 tonnes, 3% above the level last year.

Subscribe to receive pork market news straight to your inbox. Simply complete our online form.

While AHDB seeks to ensure that the information contained on this webpage is accurate at the time of publication, no warranty is given in respect of the information and data provided. You are responsible for how you use the information. To the maximum extent permitted by law, AHDB accepts no liability for loss, damage or injury howsoever caused or suffered (including that caused by negligence) directly or indirectly in relation to the information or data provided in this publication.

All intellectual property rights in the information and data on this webpage belong to or are licensed by AHDB. You are authorised to use such information for your internal business purposes only and you must not provide this information to any other third parties, including further publication of the information, or for commercial gain in any way whatsoever without the prior written permission of AHDB for each third party disclosure, publication or commercial arrangement. For more information, please see our Terms of Use and Privacy Notice or contact the Director of Corporate Affairs at info@ahdb.org.uk  © Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. All rights reserved.