UK produced 91,900 tonnes of pig meat in November
Supported by Christmas demand this is the highest monthly volume since March. Production has grown 6% from October, despite average carcase weights easing in the month to 89.4 kg (-1%). Year-on-year production is down 2%, predominantly due to the heavier carcase weights brought on by the backlog late last year.
Increased production on the month was driven by increased slaughter, with November clean pig kill recording the highest monthly numbers since March, at 995,400 head. Clean pig slaughter is up 8% month on month, although numbers are inline with those seen in November last year.
For the year to date (Jan-Nov), pig meat production stands at 966,200 tonnes, up 2% on this time last year. This growth continues to be driven by the heavier carcase weights seen at the beginning of the year, as the year to date clean pig slaughter remains in line with 2021 numbers.
Sharp decline in the UK pig breeding herd
As producers in the pig industry continue to be severely challenged, it is unsurprising that the latest release of the UK livestock population at 1 June shows the total pig population has fallen 2.5% in 12 months, to 5.19 million head.
The overall breeding herd has contracted 15.2%, driven by a loss of 56,000 sows (-14%) in the female breeding herd which stands at 342,800 head. The number of sows and gilts in pig declined by 11.7% and 22.4% respectively, with the number of gilts intended for first time breeding down 21.3%. These sharp drop offs in numbers demonstrate the impact of the tough conditions, with producers leaving the industry or contracting their herds in response to continued negative farm margins.
The number of fattening pigs has seen a decline of 54,000 head (-1.1%) to 4.77 million head.
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