November UK clean pig slaughterings were down 3.5% on November 2023 at 879,000 head, with pigmeat production 3.9% lower at 82,000 tonnes, 3.9%, Defra’s latest UK slaughter statistics.
The weekly average, which gives a more accurate comparison, showed the November 2024 figure of 205,000 head/week was 3.3% down year on year.
But more strikingly the November weekly average was 6% down on October the October figure of 218,000 head/week). However, the validity of these October slaughter figures, which were 9% up year-on-year and seemed out of step with market reality, has been questioned.
Breaking the total November UK figure down by region showed 691,000 clean pigs were slaughtered in England and Wales, 6% down on October, 20,000 in Scotland and 168,000 in Northern Ireland, 20% on October.
Defra’s UK figures mirror AHDB’s estimated GB slaughterings for November, which were below year-earlier levels for the final three weeks of the month.
There was a noticeable spike in estimated GB slaughterings during the week ended December 7, as Christmas week rapproached. The figure of 181,795 head was 18,000 up on the week and 15,700 head above the same week last year, although it remained 25,000 below the 2022 figure.
The Defra UK figures also showed a big fall in sow and boar slaughterings to 17,000 in November, 19% down, both year on year and in comparison to October.