The latest Defra data release supports industry commentary of tight supplies of slaughter pigs, reported AHDB analyst Freya Shuttleworth. 

According to Shuttleworth's report, a total of 762,000 head of clean pigs were slaughtered in February. 

"This is the first time monthly numbers have been below 800,000 head since May 2020 when the UK was still in the first covid-19 lockdown, and the lowest recorded monthly figure since May 2014," she wrote. "Throughputs are down 11% compared to last month and down a substantial 17% year on year, sitting 13% below the 5-year average."

Pig meat production volumes were 13% below the 5-year average. Year-on-year, pig meat production has seen a larger decline than slaughter numbers, down 21%, due to average carcase weights being 5kg lighter (88.9kg) in 2023 than they were in 2022, Shutteworth said.