UK clean pig slaughterings fell by 5% in real terms last month, year-on-year, once Defra’s official figures were adjusted to reflect January this year containing one working day more than in January 2016, according to AHDB Pork.
As a result, the adjusted 5% decline continues the trend of lower slaughterings seen in previous months, driven by the fall in the size of the breeding herd that occurred last year.
“Sow slaughterings (during the month) were 17% lower than in the previous year,” added AHDB Pork. “This is (also) after figures were adjusted to account for a change in reporting methodology and the extra working day in January 2017.
“This followed the trend seen in the previous month, possibly a result of the smaller breeding herd meaning there are fewer sows to be slaughtered.
“Carcase weights, meanwhile, were level with the same month in 2016 at 83.8kg, the first time since 2015 that weights have not increased.”