UK Slaughter Statistics - May 2009

UK - According to the latest figures by the UK's Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) released today, the overall pigmeat production in the country rose only very slightly in April due to it being a five-week month.

The number of clean pigs sent for slaughter in April was 834,000 compared to 700,000 in March and 674,000 in February.

Last month, 20,000 sows and boars were sent for slaughter compared to 16,000 in February and March.

The April average slaughter weight declined only very slightly at 77.2 kg compared to 77.8 kg the month before. Also, there was a fairly sharp drop in the average dressed weight for sows and boars at 144.2 kg compared to 147.3 kg in March.

Altogether, the UK produced 67,000 tonnes of pigmeat in April compared to 57,000 tonnes in March, 55,000 tonnes in February and 66,000 tonnes in January.