According to the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), pork production in 2025 rose by 2.3% compared to the previous year, reaching 975,200 tonnes.
Despite a contraction in the breeding herd, clean pig slaughter in 2025 increased by 1.4% to 10.39 million head.
Regionally, slaughter in England and Wales grew by 1% to 8.20 million head, accounting for 79% of the UK total. In Northern Ireland, slaughter rose by 3% to 1.97 million head (19% of the national total). Meanwhile, Scotland, which represents about 2% of UK slaughter, recorded a slight decline of 0.5% to 221,000 head.
At the same time, sow and boar slaughter continued to decline in line with the shrinking breeding herd.
The main factor behind higher pork output was not slaughter numbers but heavier carcase weights. In 2025, the average clean pig carcase weight reached 90.9 kg, 1 kg more than in 2024.
In the first and fourth quarters, average weights consistently exceeded 91 kg, peaking at 92.4 kg in November. However, a prolonged period of hot weather from May to August negatively affected performance, with average weights falling below 90 kg in the third quarter.
At the start of 2026, the trend toward heavier carcase weights continues, with record levels already observed in the weekly SPP sample.
Overall, 2025 was a relatively successful year for the UK pig sector, with productivity gains partly offsetting structural reductions in the breeding segment. Future developments will depend on market conditions and the impact of weather on animal performance.
PigUA.info based on pig333.com