GB pig feed production in May rose by 2% on the year to 144,700 tonnes, according to latest data from Defra.
This is the first month in over a year that it has recorded an annual rise. January-May production totalled 723,000 tonnes, as much as 5% down on the same period last year.
The rise in pig feed usage during May was predominately driven by an annual increase of 10% in starter/grower feed production, outweighing a 2% fall in finishing feed output. The reduction in finisher feed production echoes reports that domestic pig meat supplies have been tight so far this season. The rise in starter/grower feed output in May, might suggest greater supplies of finishing pigs coming to market in the next few months. However, it is worth bearing in mind that this is based on one month’s worth of data.
Breeder feed production remained relatively stable on the same point last year, for the first time since July 2015. This would support the sentiment that the GB breeding herd is starting to recover, following an assumed contraction last year.
