A small but important change is going to be taking place in the pig slaughtering industry from September 4.

The UK is moving into line with the rest of the EU by scrapping the table rebates and adopting a flat rate 2% rebate which will have a direct effect on producer carcase weights.

Britain obtained a derogation in the 1980s and continued to use tables which gave slightly different figures according to the slaughter weight of pigs.

Now all parties involved have agreed to come into line with the rest of the EU by adopting the flat rate percentage reduction.

British Pig Executive Chairman Stewart Houston said: "It is something we have been working on for some time and will bring parity with the rest of the EU.

"It is a bit of tidying up which was made more relevant by the increase in the weight of slaughter pigs in the UK. It will also make cost and return comparisons easier."

Notes:

Pigs are weighed within 45 minutes of slaughter but when the carcase has been cooled it loses about two-per-cent of its weight. This varies slightly according to the total weight of the carcase. The increase in the weight of pigs sent for slaughter over the last few years means the two-per-cent reduction is now more appropriate.

BPEX Search for Smashing Sausage
Champion Sausage Maker Crowned
Cool tips for hot pigs
Bringing Home The Bacon