March 19, 2007

British pig production rise in 2006

Swine production in the UK has increased by 1.2 percent as against 2005, according to December 2006 data published by British Department of Environment, Food and Rural Agriculture (DEFRA).

But this does not necessarily mean more finished pigs will be coming to the market in the year ahead, said DEFRA.

The number of in-pig sows has risen by 4.4 percent, but this is more than offset by a decline of 7.6 percent in the number of in-pig gilts. However, larger numbers of maiden gilts are being retained which may lead to an upturn in slaughter pig throughput in early 2008.

Conception rate problems experienced in many herds last summer are underlined by a 6 percent drop in the number of progeny pigs included in the census returns. Recent rises in feed prices, which over the same period have seen feed cereals increase by 25 percent, may also put a break on further expansion. Unless finished pig prices match this rise more herds could go out of business, said DEFRA.