Total UK pigmeat production during October 2016 recorded the sharpest year-on-year output decline for more than seven years, according to AHDB Pork.
Based on the latest figures from Defra, the total for October, combining clean pig and sow slaughtering numbers, left the UK industry with an output of 73,500 thousand tonnes. This was 5% down on October 2015, representing the sharpest rate of year-on-year decline in output for any month since April 2009.
For clean pig slaughterings, this was the third consecutive month of falling throughputs, a reduction which “backs up reports of tightening supplies on the market”.
“Sow slaughterings were also reportedly back by 11% on the adjusted year earlier figure during October, at 18,900 head,” said AHDB Pork.
“The extent of this decrease may partially be self-adjustment, following from the small increase in slaughterings seen during September, relative to 2015. However, with the market situation currently positive, it would be anticipated that producers will maintain their breeding herds at this time.”