UK pig meat production higher in May

The UK produced 88,600 tonnes of pig meat in May, according to Defra figures. This is 1,500 tonnes more than the previous month and 6,600 tonnes more that the same month a year ago. The number of clean pigs slaughtered was 957,000 head, 44,500 more than last May, an increase of 5%. There were an extra two working days this May.

Carcase weights continue to come in heavier than a year ago, although the difference is narrowing. Average clean weights were 89.3kg in the month, 2.7kg heavier than a year ago.

This all brings total production for the year to date to 452,200 tonnes, a 6% increase compared with last year at this point. The clean pig kill is 4.73 million head, only 1% more year-on-year, and so heavier carcase weights overwhelmingly account for the increase in production.

Clean pig throughputs are expected to fall away later in the summer, and production with them. By how much will depend on the amount of contraction in the sow herd.

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