UK clean pig slaughtering in May were 11% higher than in 2009 at 693,000 head, while pig meat production was 57,000 tonnes, a rise of 12% on May 2009.

The number of clean pigs sent for slaughter in May dropped to 693,000, compared to 857,000 in April and 707,000 in March. The number of sows and boars also dropped at 16,000, compared to 21,000 in April and 18,000 in March.

The May average slaughter weight for clean pigs was 78.4 kilogrammes, compared to 78kg in April and 79.2kg in March. The average dressed carcass weight for sows and boars was 154.4kg in May, compared to 142.4kg in April and 159.6kg in March.