AHDB Pig Market Weekly
23 April 2012
AHDB UK Market Survey - 20 April 2012
UK red meat and offal production in the first three months of 2012 totalled 525,000 tonnes, four per cent less than in the corresponding period in 2011.
Beef and veal production in the first three months amounted to 223,000 tonnes, a decrease of over eight per cent on year earlier levels. This decline was driven by lower prime cattle slaughterings and a considerable decline in cull cow throughputs, as carcase weights were broadly similar to those in the first three months of 2011.
Prime cattle slaughterings were nine per cent lower year on year at 501,000 head, largely driven by a 20 per cent decline in young bull slaughterings. However, steer throughputs were six per cent lower on the year, while heifer throughputs were down eight per cent. At just over 141,000 head cull cow slaughterings were nine per cent lower than in the corresponding period a year ago. Last year producers were taking advantage of firm market prices and rationalising their herds in the face of high input costs.
As a result of reduced throughputs of lambs and adult sheep mutton and lamb production in the first quarter of 2012 declined two per cent on the year to 62,600 tonnes. Ewe and ram throughputs were 11 per cent lower on the year at 443,000 head with lamb throughputs down three per cent at 2.58 million head. The better seasonal conditions and increased feed availability over the winter has resulted in carcase weights increasing considerably and therefore offsetting the decline in throughputs to some extent.
Pig meat production in the January to March period totalled 206,000 tonnes, two per cent higher than during the first quarter of 2011. Clean pig throughputs were up two per cent on the year to 2.48 million head while sow slaughterings were five per cent higher than AHDB estimates for the corresponding period last year at 65,000 head. Clean pig carcase weights in the period were lower year on year, as producers finished slaughter pigs to lower weights in an attempt to offset high feed costs.
Cattle market trends
Prices
In week ended 14 April the overall prime cattle
deadweight average price strengthened almost a
penny on the week to 339.6p per kg. The
average price of all categories of cattle increased
on the week with the price of R4L steers up a
penny to 347.7p per kg while heifers were
marginally dearer at 345.5p per kg.
Tight supplies and firm demand for beef by
exporters continued to result in upwards pressure
on cow prices. In week ended 14 April the -04L
cow price increased by five pence on the week to
average 281.1p per kg.
In the week ended 18 April the prime cattle
average price at GB auction markets was broadly
level on the week. The average steer price fell a
penny to 188.8p per kg, while the heifer price
levelled on the week at 168.5p per kg.
Carcase quality results
Data from a sample of prime cattle slaughtered in GB last year shows that 49 per cent of carcases met the ‘R4L or better’ target market specification, the same as in 2010. There was a notable improvement in young bull classifications where the number hitting this target increased five pergentage points on the year to 53 per cent. This is likely to be as a result of the reduction in the number of dairy-bred bull slaughterings. The conformation quality of heifer carcases improved slightly year on year, to 64 per cent. The proportion of steer carcase classifications meeting the target fell back slightly to 56 per cent, likely to be a consequence of earlier finishing as producers attempted to minimise feed costs, or were overly keen to benefit from high prices.
Regional slaughterings
Following the trend so far in 2012, at 157,000
head, UK prime cattle slaughterings in March
were significantly lower than in the same month
of 2011. Slaughterings of all categories of cattle
in all regions of the UK were back on the year
with throughputs of steers and heifers back six
and seven per cent respectively and young bull
throughputs down by a fifth. Cull cow
slaughtering also continued to be lower on the
year, at 39,000 head they were down eight per
cent. In addition, adult bull throughputs were
over a quarter lower on the year.
Beef and veal production totalled 68,300 tonnes,
eight per cent lower than in March 2011.
Production from prime cattle was back eight per
cent on the year while from cows and adult bulls
was 18 per cent lower.
Sheep market trends
Prices
In week ended 14 April deadweight lamb prices
eased. The old season lamb SQQ dropped two
pence to average 464.3p per kg while the new
season lamb SQQ fell three pence to 517.7p per kg.
Liveweight prices have been under pressure in week
ended 18 April. This comes a processors appear to
have restocked after Easter and the home market
remains lacklustre. The OSL SQQ fell nine pence
on the week to average 208.0p per kg. This
situation worsened as the week progressed with the
OSL SQQ on Wednesday 18 April, 18 pence lower
on the week at 200.5p per kg. New season lamb
prices have also declined, further indicating a
general lack of demand in the market. The NSL
SQQ was down 17 pence on the week to average
245.2p per kg. As with older lambs Wednesday
represented the lowest point in the week with the
NSL SQQ down 26 pence week on week at 235.5p
per kg.
Further indication of lacklustre demand was
recorded in the cull ewe trade with prices dropping
four pounds per hear on the week to average
£87.80.
Regional slaughterings
In March clean sheep throughputs at UK abattoirs totalled 820,000 head, two per cent higher than year earlier levels. This was undoubtedly helped by the earlier Easter holiday period and better seasonal conditions, both of which have encouraged earlier marketings. Throughputs in England and Wales were up three per cent while in Scotland were down six per cent. Numbers in Northern Ireland increased by a quarter to 15,000 head as fewer lambs were exported to the Republic where domestic supplies are considerably better this year.Adult sheep throughputs continue to be down reflecting the rebuilding intentions that were evidenced in the December survey and the younger age profile of the breeding flock following heavy culling over the last two years. At 133,000 head throughputs in March were five per cent lower year on year.
The better seasonal conditions and increased feed availability over the winter has resulted in carcase weights increasing considerably. Clean sheep weights averaged 20.1kg in March, half a kilo above year earlier levels and the first time they have averaged over 20kg since April 2007. Adult sheep carcase weights were also up by a similar amount to 26.4kg. The heavier weights and the increased throughputs resulted in production increasing three per cent on the year to 20,000 tonnes.
Pig market trends
Prices
The recent upward trend in finished pig prices
continued in week ended 14 April, with the
DAPP increasing by 0.86p per kg to average
145.05p per kg. Despite the Bank Holiday,
most plants operated for five days during the
week, so estimated throughputs were five per
cent higher than the previous week. Despite
supplies remaining at or above year earlier
levels, the DAPP was over four pence higher
than a year earlier. Average carcase weights
increased slightly, to 78.87kg, with the average
probe measurement slightly down at 10.5 mm.
In contrast to the DAPP, weaner prices have
experienced little movement in recent weeks as
rising feed costs have offset optimism about
future finished pig prices. In week ended 24
April, the average price of a 30kg weaner was
£45.96, just over two pounds more than in the
same week a year ago. The average price of
export specification sows fell by almost two
pence in week ended 14 April to 122.47p per
kg as demand from manufacturers was reduced
by the Easter holiday.
Regional slaughterings
UK clean pig slaughterings in March 2012
totalled 771,000 head, two per cent higher than
in March 2011. Throughputs were higher in all
regions of the UK, with a two per cent increase
in both England & Wales and Northern Ireland
and a marginal rise in Scotland. The latter
contrasts with recent months when Scottish
throughputs have been higher, perhaps
reflecting the reduction in the Scottish herd
recorded in the December census.
Nevertheless, the number of pigs slaughtered in
Scotland in the first quarter of 2012 was 11 per
cent higher than a year earlier. Slaughterings of
cull sows and boars during March totalled
20,800 head, almost all in England. This was
about three per cent higher than AHDB’s
estimate for March 2011.
The average clean pig carcase weight during
March was slightly lower than a year earlier at
79.0kg. The average carcase weight for cull
sows and boars was 149kg, slightly higher than
a year earlier. The net result was that total pig
meat production in March was two per cent
higher than a year earlier at 64,000 tonnes.
DOWNLOAD REPORT:- Download this report here
© 2000 - 2020. Global Ag Media. All Rights Reserved.