September 11, 2012

UK's pig slaughtering rise 3% on-year in July 2012

UK's pig slaughtering maintains at high levels in July, with a 3% rise on 2011, to 964,000 head.

Throughputs in the first seven months of the year were also 3% up, at 5.9 million head.

Sow and adult boar slaughterings reached 26,000 head in July, - 25% more than last year, as some producers destocked due to higher feed costs.

Finished pig prices remained stable, with the EU DAPP easing slightly to GBP0.150 (US$0.24) per kilogramme in the week to September 1, according to a BPEX report.

"This stability, which has been apparent since late June, contrasts with the normal trend of falling prices during August."

As a result, the DAPP was more than GBP0.30 (US$0.48) per kilogramme higher than a year earlier.

Weaner values had also begun to stabilise, with the average 30 kilogramme price dropping to GBP38.98 (US$62.42) a head in the week to September 8. "Although there have been some further increases in feed prices, the stability of finished pig prices is limiting the downward pressure on weaners," said the report.

After more than four months in decline, cull sow values were matching stronger German markets, with average prices rising in August 29, to GBP0.11 (US$0.18) per kilogramme.