UK pork production higher in April on heavier weights

In April, 922,000 clean pigs were slaughtered in the UK according to the latest Defra data. This is 27,000 head (3%) fewer than a year ago. This brings the number of clean pigs slaughtered in the UK so far in 2022 to 3.8 million, steady on year earlier levels.

As has been the case all year, carcase weights remain elevated due to the persistent backlog of pigs on farms. Average clean carcase weights were recorded as 90.9kg in April, down from 92.4kg in March, but still a substantial 3.5kg heavier than a year ago.

Both the rate of slaughter, and the fact that weights are falling, indicate that progress is being made on the backlog at a national level. However, it appears patchy, as there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that some farms still have high numbers overdue for movement. Input costs have continued to rise sharply, and negative margins have only worsened. Heavy pigs make the situation worse for those that have lots of them.

Together, lower slaughter and heavier weights mean pig meat production was 87,000 tonnes in April. This is 1.4% more than last April, and brings production in the first four months of 2022 to 363,500 tonnes, 5% more than during the same period a year ago.

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