When were the slaughtered pigs heaviest?

In 2017, the weight of the pigs slaughtered in the Netherlands amounted to 1,4 billion kilos. On average over 15,1 million pigs, this amounts to a weight of 96 kilos. This is according to figures from Statistics Netherlands. But in which month were the pigs heaviest? 

The total slaughter weight in 2016 also came out at 1,4 billion kilos, but then the average weight per pig was lower (94,5 kilos). In this top 5 we also look at the slaughter weights in 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015.

What was it like in 2017?
At the top is November, in which the number of pig slaughters reached 1,35 million. The slaughter weight was 130,8 million kilos, which means an average of 96,6 kilos per pig. In 2016, the average slaughter weight in this month was still 95 kilos per pig. In total, 1,31 million pigs were slaughtered.

In second place is April, with a total of 1,05 million pig slaughters. In April the slaughter weight was 101 million kilos, which means that 1 slaughtered pig weighed an average of 96,4 kilos. In 2016, the average weight was 94,9 kilograms. It is striking that more pigs were slaughtered in April 2016, namely 1,25 million pigs.

The bronze medal is for May. In that month, the number of pigs slaughtered amounted to 1,39 million, which is less than number 2. However, it is striking that the average weight is the same (96,4 kilos). In 2016, the average weight was 94,6 kilograms per pig, out of a total of 1,25 million slaughtered pigs.

The fourth place is for December, in which 1,24 million pigs were slaughtered. The slaughter weight was 119,5 million kilos, which means that the average per pig is 96,3 kilos. In 2016, the average weight was lower (95,1 kilos), when the number of slaughters amounted to 1,31 million.

The fifth place is for September in which the number of pig slaughters reached 1,26 million. The total slaughter weight of onions came to 121,3 million kilos. This means that the average weight of 1 slaughtered pig was 96,2 kilos. In 2016, 1,26 million pigs were also slaughtered in this month, but then the average weight was lower (93,9 kilos).

Previous years
In 1995 the number of slaughters amounted to 18,62 million, with a total weight of 1,6 billion kilos. It means that 1 pig weighed an average of 87,1 kilos. April was the best month, because in that month 1,44 million pigs were slaughtered (average weight was 88,1 kilos). The second best month was November, when 1,60 million pigs were slaughtered (average weight was 87,9 kg). The third place is for March, in which 1,74 million pigs were slaughtered (average weight was 87,7 kilos).

In 2000, the number of pig slaughters amounted to 18,56 million, with the total slaughter weight coming out at 1,6 billion kilos. It means that the pigs weighed an average of 87,4 kilos. The pigs were heaviest in March (average slaughter weight: 87,9 kilos). In that month, 1,61 million pigs were slaughtered. The second best month was February, in which the number of slaughters amounted to 1,58 million (average weight was 87,9 kilos). In the third best month, the average weight was 87,7 kilos. The total number of slaughters amounted to 1,40 million units.

The number of pigs slaughtered in 2005 amounted to 14,39 million, with a slaughter weight of 1,3 billion kilos. It means that a slaughtered pig weighed an average of 90,2 kilograms. The best month was February, when the number of slaughters reached 1,13 million (average weight was 90,7 kilos). In second place is November, in which the average slaughter weight was 90,6 kilos (total number of slaughters: 1,27 million). The bronze medal is for May. In that month the total number of slaughters amounted to 1,19 million, with an average slaughter weight of 90,5 kilos.

In 2010, the number of slaughters stood at 13,94 million. The total slaughter weight came to 1,3 billion kilos; per pig that means a weight of 92,4 kilos. The best month was January, with an average weight of 93,7 kilograms. In total, 1,19 million pigs were slaughtered in that month. The month of February is in second place with an average weight of 93,3 kilos (the number of slaughters was 1,08 million). The bronze medal is for March, in which the average weight was 93,2 kilos. In this month, 1,30 million pigs were slaughtered.

The number of slaughters in 2015 amounted to 15,48 million, with the slaughter weight coming out at 1,5 billion kilos. It means that 1 pig weighed an average of 94 kilos. The best month was January, in which the slaughter weight was 95,2 kilos. The total number of slaughters in that month amounted to 1,23 million. The month of February is in second place, with a weight of 94,7 kilograms (number of slaughters: 1,34 million). The third place is for March, in which the average weight was 94,6 kilos. The total number of slaughters in that month was 1,31 million.

What is striking about the figures is that the slaughter weight has increased considerably every 5 years. The highest average slaughter figure in 1995 was 88 kilos, where in 2017 it was 96 kilos per pig. It is an increase of almost 10 kilos.

Kimberly Baker

Kimberly Bakker is an all-round editor at Boerenbusiness. She also has an eye for the social media channels of Boerenbusiness.

k.baker @boerenbusiness. Nl

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