Over the last few months, the number of pigs slaughtered in the UK has been higher than a year earlier, figures from the Department for Rural Affairs Defra show.
In December, some 796.000 clean pigs were slaughtered, which was 4.8 per cent more than in the same month in 2013. Pigmeat production in December was 66.000 tonnes, 6.3 per cent higher than in December 2013. In the first month of the new year, clean pig slaughterings were 2.3 per cent higher than in January 2014 at 963.000 pigs. The pigmeat production in January came to 83.000 tonnes, which was 4.0 per cent more year-on-year. In December, the average dressed carcass weight came to 80.6, which was lower than in previous months.
Meanwhile, the National Pig Association reports that the large supermarkets seem to be sticking to their promise, made after the so-called Horsegate scandal, to stock more British meat. Seven of the largest supermarkets, including Aldi, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s, sell 100 per cent fresh pork. Overall, British pork counts for over 80 per cent of shell space. However, for bacon and ham, the share of British pork is slightly lower than a year earlier.