Evidence of a continued tightening of future pigmeat supplies shows through in the latest production and carcase weight figures from Defra, according to AHDB Pork.
In May, after adjusting for a change in reporting periods, pig slaughtering fell by 0.5% in comparison to May 2015, a decline which AHDB Pork said may start to provide a tightening of supplies.
Average carcase weights also fell in May, reducing to 81.3kg, which was the first time this year that the average carcase weight has fallen below 82kg.
At the same time, sow slaughterings in May continued to stay ahead of 2015 levels, running 4% above last year’s figures.
“This continues the trend that has been recorded in 2016 to date, supporting the expectation of a contraction in the breeding herd, resulting in a tightening of supplies in the future,” said AHDB Pork.