Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • Innovation supplement 2024
    • Pig & Poultry Fair Guide 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • Pig Nutrition (Beyond Zinc)
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • National Pig Awards Supplement 2023
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. May 2025
    2. April 2025
    3. March 2025
    4. 2025 Buildings supplement
    5. February 2025
    6. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    7. January 2025
    8. December 2024
    9. November 2024
    10. National Pig Awards supplement
    11. October 2024
    12. September 2024
    13. August 2024
    14. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    15. July 2024
    16. June 2024
    17. Innovation supplement 2024
    18. Pig & Poultry Fair Guide 2024
    19. May 2024
    20. April 2024
    21. Buildings Supplement
    22. March 2024
    23. Pig Nutrition (Beyond Zinc)
    24. February 2024
    25. January 2024
    26. December 2023
    27. November 2023
    28. National Pig Awards Supplement 2023
    29. October 2023
    30. September 2023
    31. Health Supplement
    Featured

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025
    Recent

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025

    April 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    April 4, 2025

    March 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    March 6, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
News

Defra revises UK pig slaughterings data

PW ReportersBy PW ReportersMay 24, 20182 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

The latest Defra statistics release includes downward revisions to official UK pig slaughtering numbers from November 2017 onwards.

Clean pig slaughterings during 2017 are now estimated at 10.38 million head, a 3% decline on the previous year. Meanwhile pig meat production stood at 897,700 tonnes, a 2% decline on 2016 levels.

For the first quarter of 2018, clean pig slaughterings now total 2.6 million head, 3% higher than year earlier levels. Production increased at the same rate, reaching 229,400 tonnes. The downwards revisions have implications for the pork production forecast, meaning the 2018 total is likely to be lower than previously anticipated.

Bethan Wilkins, an analyst at AHDB Pork, said: “Initial figures for April suggest UK pig supplies were perhaps surprisingly high during the month. Slaughterings were up 17% (+132,800 head) compared with a year earlier, reaching 908,300 head. Some of this increase will be attributable to the earlier Easter this year, meaning there were two extra working days in April 2018.

1-uk-production

“However, even when taking this into account, April slaughterings per working day would still be over 5% higher than year earlier levels, according to the latest statistics release.”

The rise was particularly driven by slaughterings in Northern Ireland, which were reportedly up 31% (+40,000 head) on the previous year at 169,000 head. This level of increase is well above that recorded in the DAERA weekly figures, which suggest an annual growth closer to 10% for the month. As such, the increase may be somewhat overstated and subsequent revisions might be expected.

At 78,700 tonnes, the latest figures suggest UK pig meat production increased ahead of clean pig slaughterings during the month, growing 18% year-on-year. A rise in average carcase weights, to 83.8kg, supported production levels during the month. This was 900g above year earlier levels.

In addition, sow slaughterings were 4% higher than year earlier levels at 18,000 head. However, when taking the earlier Easter this year into account, and comparing on a per working day basis, like-for-like throughputs would actually be 7% lower.

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleAnimal transport rule changes must be based on science, rather than emotion – NPA
Next Article Klasse AI introduces market leading US boar to UK
PW Reporters

Read Similar Stories

Aldi reinforces British commitment amid trade deal threat

May 15, 2025

GB pig prices for week ending May 10, 2025 – SPP drops back

May 14, 2025

UK livestock sectors urged to take part in survey on vaccine availability

May 14, 2025
Latest News

Aldi reinforces British commitment amid trade deal threat

May 15, 2025

GB pig prices for week ending May 10, 2025 – SPP drops back

May 14, 2025

UK livestock sectors urged to take part in survey on vaccine availability

May 14, 2025
Sponsored Content

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024

Tackle the root cause of PWD with free diagnostic tests

March 1, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1739 Devon

    • Devon
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1738 Co. Fermanagh

    • County Fermanagh
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Stockperson

    • Swaffham, Norfolk
    • DYER LIVESTOCK LTD
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.