Inside: Pig Market
More slaughter and rising weights
While the number of slaughters in the Netherlands and Germany is rising, the weights are also rising. In its own words, Westfleisch is attracting more and more slaughter in Germany.
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In the Netherlands, 320.000 pigs were slaughtered last week, compared to 310.000 the week before. This means that the number of slaughters this year remains well above the 300.000 mark. What is striking is that the average slaughter weight has increased for the second week in a row. This time it concerns an increase of 10 grams to 98,10 kilos.
3
procent
Tightness in Germany
More pigs were also hanging on the slaughter hooks in Germany (964.314 head). This is a plus of 3%, compared to 1 week earlier. However, compared to last year's level, the slaughter figure remains more than 3% behind. In Germany, the average slaughter weight rises to 98,08 kilos (+0,31).
The German pig supply is described as tight. This is also evident from the rising pork price, although it is increasing trend probably broken now that Vion Germany has received a 'hauspreise' uses. The shortage applies to a lesser extent to slaughter sows.
More massacres at Westfleisch
While the number of slaughters in Germany decreased somewhat in 2017, Westfleisch slaughtered more pigs (+3% to 8,16 million pigs). The slaughterhouse claims that 1 in 9 pigs slaughtered in Germany is their 'contract pig'. About 70% of the supply at the slaughterhouse is fixed by contract.
These pigs are supplied by more than 2.100 producers. The slaughterhouse will pay these companies a bonus of €2017 million in 3. This amounts to €0,40 per pig, €0,20 per piglet and €3 per sow.