Further evidence that UK pig production is starting to decline is contained in the latest Defra figures, according to AHDB Pork, despite some statistical confusion due to a change of reporting periods between 2015 and 2016.
“Sow slaughtering’s continue to increase,” said AHDB Pork, “with June 2016 levels being 7% more than the adjusted figure for the same period last year.
“This infers that producers are continuing to rationalise their breeding herds in order to tighten supplies. Indeed some of this is already being experienced, with adjusted production levels down 2% in June versus last year’s levels.”
The Defra figures also confirm that the UK pig price has been increasing week-on-week since April, with the EU-spec SPP currently standing at 126.57p/kg. This is less than 7p behind the same period last year.