News Pigs
Pig slaughter in Germany even further back
The situation on the pig market continues to be difficult. The processing capacity is considerably reduced due to the high absenteeism due to corona. The number of slaughters in Germany was already historically low in week 3, but fell even further in week 4.
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German slaughterhouses processed 767.000 pigs last week. That was 26.000 fewer than a week earlier. As in other industries, there is a high level of absenteeism among employees, which puts pressure on the capacity in the slaughterhouses.
However, the average slaughtered weight rose only slightly last week, to 97,3 kilos. The fact that the weights do not increase strongly indicates that the pig supply in Germany is actually smaller than in other years and that not many pigs remain in the stables. In the Netherlands, the supply seems to be somewhat broader in that regard and it is difficult to get all the animals offered on the hook at the desired time, according to the trade.
Meat trade stable, but no impulses either
Pork component prices have not lost any more ground this week. The DCA pork cuts quotation was stable for all cuts. Demand is weak, but supply remains somewhat limited, partly due to the limited slaughter capacity. For the time being, it is still waiting for more perception in the demand for pork.
All in all, the price level of the pig market remains stable at low levels. The VEZG quotation has been re-established at €1,20 per kilogram slaughtered weight.