November produced a major increase in pig slaughterings with the average weekly figure at its highest since December 2000, according to BPEX.
“The number of clean pigs slaughtered in November was 5% higher than the same month in 2013, at 867,300 head,” said BPEX, pointing out that this was the biggest annual increase for any month since May 2012, in addition to reaching a four-year high in terms of the average weekly kill.
Pinpointing improved sow productivity and better growth rates this year as the key reasons behind these figures, BPEX also said that total pigmeat production for the month, at 74,100 tonnes, was the highest November figure since 1999.
With the number of adult boars and sows culled in November showing a 5% decline, however, compared with the same month last year, BPEX concluded that there was certainly “no sign that low pig prices are yet leading to producers reducing their sow herds”.