The information below is an extract from the quarterly pig bulletin published by Defra. This extract shows only the graphical data. To read the full report, including all the tabular data, download the full report here (PDF).

1. Pig slaughterings

The graph below illustrates the trends in the monthly results and the average weekly slaughter:

EU pig slaughterings

Numbers of EU pig slaughterings are only available in total, as the statistical legislation does not require Member States to differentiate between clean and cull slaughterings. At the time of publication only EU 25 slaughter data available.

2. Carcase weights

The graphs below show average UK carcase weights, on an EU-spec basis.

3. Pigmeat production, trade and supplies

Pigmeat production is calculated from information on slaughterings and average carcase weights. A separate quarterly survey of bacon and ham production provides data on the amount of pigmeat that is cured. The quantity of pork produced is calculated as the difference between total pigmeat production and the quantity cured.

There are several measures of production used within this section. They are defined as follows:

Home killed production:	Meat produced from all pigs slaughtered in the UK.
Home fed production:	Meat produced from all pigs fattened in the UK. This measure includes the carcase meat equivalent of live (non-breeding) pig exports but excludes the carcase meat equivalent of pigs imported for immediate slaughter.
Home cured production:	This relates only to bacon and ham production and is a measure of the quantity of bacon and ham cured in the UK wherever the origin of the pigmeat.

4. Pig Prices and Value of Pigs and Pigmeat Production

The reference prices shown here run to the week ending 6th January 2008. In the latest week the UK reference price was €10.62 per 100kg above the EU average.

The following graph compares the average finished pig price with the average compound pig feed prices (GB). Compound feed prices are published retrospectively, three months after the end of the period concerned, to protect the commercial confidentiality of respondents. The latest published figures are for September 2007. Note: In March 2004 AESA (UK) price ceased to be calculated and the GB DAPP price became the official indicator. The AESA is shown up to the date it was last calculated (March 2004) and the DAPP is shown from May 2003 the date it was first published.

Further Reading

- To view the UK/EU Pig Populations - December 2007, please click here.

January 2008