Slaughter figures 2017 point to two trends

Last year, 15.210.000 pigs were slaughtered in the Netherlands. This is 463.000 more than in 2016 (+3,1%). Also in 2015, more than 15 million pigs were slaughtered. In previous years, the slaughter figure fluctuated around 14 million pigs. The number of slaughters increased, especially in the second half of 2017.

Since July, the number of slaughters has been higher (an average of +5,9%) than in the previous year. In the first six months, 'only' 0,8% more was slaughtered. The increase in the second half of the year This is because more pigs have been slaughtered in the Netherlands, which would otherwise have been exported abroad. This trend is expected to continue in 2018. 

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There is more gender, especially in the second half of 2017.Heavier pigs
In addition to the fact that more pigs were slaughtered, the weights also increased. The average slaughter weight is 96,04 kilos, compared to 94,48 kilos in 2016. Compared to the 5-year average (93,61 kilos), a weight increase of 2,43 kilos is even visible.

One of the reasons for the rising weights is that fattening pig farmers have spread the high piglet costs over extra kilos. This is done by delivering heavier fattening pigs to the slaughterhouse. In 2017, several big quotations recorded record high levels. For example, the DCA BestPigletPrice quoted €8 per piglet for 59 weeks this spring.