News Pigs
Van Rooi also focuses on lighter pigs
After Vion and Tönnies, van Rooi has also adjusted his weight table. The slaughterhouse indicates that the amount of fat in the meat makes sales difficult. Aiming for lower slaughter weights is a clear trend.
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In recent years, the weight of pigs has increased significantly, the slaughterhouse writes to its suppliers. This makes fatty parts of the pigs fatter. The slaughterhouse reports that it is consuming too many fatty pigs. That is why Van Rooi adjusts the tables to aim for lower slaughter weights. The new table runs from 81 kilos to 110 kilos. If a pig farmer weighs more than 103 kilos, the slaughter price is reduced. The slaughterhouse's target weight is still slightly below that. According to Van Rooi, the ideal weight is 97,99 kilos.
European market
Aiming for leaner meat is a clear trend on the pig market. Vion and Tönnies previously adjusted their tables. To meet the tastes of the Asian market, slaughterhouses previously aimed for higher slaughter weights. For example, the slaughter weights in 2014 were between 92,58 and 95,73 kilos. In 2017, the weights increased to between 94,80 and 97,40 kilos. In 2024, the slaughter weight peaked at 102,90 kilos, before dropping to 98,90 kilos.
Now that exports to third countries are disappointing, the sector is again aiming for lighter pigs. This should make it easier to sell meat on the European market.