Inside: Pigs & Feed
Slaughterhouses mainly receive heavy pigs
In the first 11 weeks of 2017, the slaughter figure in the Netherlands was only 2 times higher than last year's level. Figures confirm that the Dutch slaughter hooks are less full than in other years. This trend also occurs in neighboring countries.
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In week 11, the Dutch slaughter figure registers 289.000 pigs. That is 2,5 percent more than the previous week. Compared to last year, 5.000 fewer pigs were slaughtered. What is striking is that the slaughterhouses mainly received mature pigs. The average weight is 96,15 kilos. An increase of 1,28 kilos compared to last year. A signal that confirms that fattening pig farmers are keeping the pigs longer with a view to rising quotations.
In Germany, the slaughter figure also rose by 11 percent in week 1,6 to 985.393 pig slaughters. However, this is almost 3 percent below last year's level and just 2 percent below the five-year average. In Germany, the pigs weighed an average of 97,53 kilos, which is reasonably in line with previous years. In France there is also an upward trend in the slaughter figure with 362.834 pigs on the hooks. However, this is well below the level of previous years.
Both pig farmers and slaughterers express their horror at the images that emerged Flemish slaughterhouse. Just when the sector is trying to radiate positivity to the outside world, this scandal comes to light. Bizarre practices that absolutely should not occur. So it is said.
Graph: Germany massacres 