EU pig slaughterings down in May

EU pig slaughterings for May 2013 were down 2 percent as compared to last year, According to Eurostat. Throughputs totaled 20.4 million head, nearly half a million fewer pigs than a year earlier. The number of pigs killed across the EU in the first five months of the year was down by 1 percent at 102.9 million head.

EU pig slaughterings for May 2013 were down 2 percent as compared to last year, According to Eurostat. Throughputs totaled 20.4 million head, nearly half a million fewer pigs than a year earlier. The number of pigs killed across the EU in the first five months of the year was down by 1 percent at 102.9 million head. With carcase weights slightly higher, pig meat production across the year to date was marginally down on a year earlier at 9.28 million tons.

Despite the overall downward movement in May, there were contrasting trends in different member states. Large decreases were recorded in Spain and the Netherlands (both down 8 percent). This might be partly due to increased exports of live pigs leaving fewer for slaughter domestically. In contrast, throughputs were higher on the year in Germany, Belgium and Italy, among others. However, the sharpest rise was in Denmark, where the May slaughter numbers was up 11 percent. 

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