April 19, 2021

UK pork production reaches 97,900 tonnes in March

Pig meat production in the United Kingdom was exceptionally strong in March, with output at 97,900 tonnes during the month, latest Defra figures revealed.

The amount is 15% higher than March 2020, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) which noted that March this year has an extra weekday, accounting for some of the growth. However, following adjustment for weekdays, the increase is still about 10%.

A combination of factors contributed to the growth. Clean pig slaughter was up by 12% at 1.06 million head, which is still equates to a 7% increase when taking account of the extra weekday. This indicates that the industry has been working through the backlog that developed towards the end of last year.

Breeding herd productivity also appears to have been lower than expected at the end of 2020, which may again dampen supply growth in the coming weeks, AHDB added.

Within the UK, slaughter pace was highest in England and Wales, where 14% more pigs were killed compared to March 2020. Growth in Scotland stood at 7% while Northern Ireland recorded a 5% increase. There were also a larger number of clean pigs processed and they were, on average, heavier than last year. The average carcase weight of 88.6kg was 2kg heavier than a year before, although lower than the previous two months.

Additionally, with the difficulties marketing sows seen in previous months easing, sow slaughter was elevated. Throughput during the month totaled 27,000 head, 27% (or 5,700 head) more than last March.

So far this year, about 3,600 more sows have been slaughtered than in the first three months of 2020. With the rate of culling disrupted late last year and in early 2021, AHDB would expect to see higher numbers coming through going forward. Poor profitability might also encourage some contraction in the breeding herd, which could also boost culling levels.

- AHDB