adminThe Pig Industry Board (PIB) on Wednesday said the number of pigs slaughtered in the first nine months of the year dropped to 98 894 compared to 109 258 during the same period last year.
PIB director Andrew Shonhiwa told New Ziana that the decrease was a result of the reduction of herd sizes by farmers due to low producer prices that prevailed between July 2013 and May 2014.
“A total of 98 894 pigs have been slaughtered in registered abattoirs as at end of September 2014, giving an average of 10 988 pigs slaughtered per month,” he said.
“The decline in the number slaughtered may be as a result of farmers reducing their herd sizes as a result of the sub-economic producer prices that prevailed between July 2013 and May 2014.”
Statistics show that a total of 6 712 tonnes of pork had been produced through the registered abattoirs during the period under review.
He, however, said the board did not have figures of pigs slaughtered in unregistered abattoirs, which he urged butcheries to shun.
“It is important to note that some farmers are not using registered abattoirs to slaughter their pigs, hence the number they have slaughtered and their contributions to meat/pork produced is not captured in the figures I have stated.
“Butcheries and shops should not accept meat from unregistered places and pigs which do not hold a roller mark to ensure it has been inspected and seen fit for human consumption,” he said. – New Ziana.
Online Reporter