UK clean pig slaughterings and pigmeat production were both slightly lower in August than a year ago, the latest Defra UK slaughter statistics show.
UK clean pig slaughterings, at 872,000 head, were down 0.6% on August 2023, while pigmeat production, at 80,000t, was 0.5% lower year-on-year.
These statistics have, of course, been clouded in huge doubt in recent months due to the discovery of errors in Defra’s data set, which put the accuracy of them in doubt, while the Department investigated.
The August figures at least appear to be more in line with the current market picture than the July statistics and Defra has now removed the warning that the figures are subject to clarification as it investigates the data errors.
AHDB analyst Freya Shuttleworth said: “The latest Defra slaughter figures appear more realistic, but we’re awaiting responses on the wider clarifications of methodology.”
The previous UK slaughter figure for July 2024 has been revised down from 931,000 head to 926,000 head, but this remains 17% above the July 2023 figure, an unlikely scenario, according to industry experts.
Taking the weekly average of clean pigs slaughtered in the UK, the August 2024 figure of 197,000 head per week is 6%, 12,000 head, down on the July figure, but 2.6%, 5,000, head up on the June figure. It is just 0.5% down, 1,000 head, down on August 2023.
The Defra slaughter statistics also show sow and boar slaughterings in August, at 17,000 head, were 1,000 head, 6.4%, down year-on-year.
AHDB’s estimated GB figures suggest slaughterings have been tracking ahead of year-earlier levels by 5,000 to 7,000 head a week since early August. The figure for the week ended September 7 of 161,000 head, was 7,200 above the same week last year, but 11,400 down the 2022 figure for the week.
These estimates are also very much subject to revision as the methodology feeds from Defra data.