The UK produced 85,900 tonnes of pig meat in October, 1,200 tonnes (1.4%) up on September figures, but 900 tonnes (1.1%) down on October 2021 production levels, the latest production figures from Defra show.
Clean pig slaughter for October stood at 926,000 head, up 5,400 head (0.6%) on the previous month. While up on September figures, throughputs are 7,200 head (0.8%) down on October 2021. However, year to date throughput is on a par last year, with 9.3 million head having been processed, AHDB analyst Charlotte Forkes-Rees said.
Weekly slaughtering numbers are expected to decline as the year goes on, on the back of figures published by Defra showing an 18% drop in the breeding herd in the year to June.
Carcase weights of clean dressed pigs increased for the second month in a row, averaging 89.6kg. This is up 900g (1%) on September weights, however down 1.4kg (1.5%) on October last year.
“Backlogs on farm which began in late 2021 resulted in increased average weights, which is still apparent with average carcase weights above the 5-year average, up 2.8kg (3.2%). This is despite an easing of weights since the highs of January,” Ms Forkes-Rees said.
Production for the year to October has reached an estimated 874,000 tonnes, up 23,000 tonnes (2.7%) on the same period last year. Whilst average carcase weights are beginning to ease back when compared to last year, the increased average carcase weights seen earlier in the year will continue to contribute to the overall gain seen in the average, she added.