Slaughter weights of the calves increased

Cattle and pigs a little easier

In Germany, the cattle delivered to the slaughterhouses weighed slightly less in the first half of the current year than in the same period last year. According to official information, the average weight of the commercially slaughtered cattle of all categories was 327,5 kilograms, which was 600 grams less than from January to June 2003.

Pig farmers also brought their animals to the slaughterhouses a little lighter: On average across all classes, pigs weighed 2004 kilograms in the first half of 93,8, 300 grams less than a year earlier. This has halted the recently observed trend towards heavier animals, at least for the time being.

The development of calves for slaughter, which were delivered with slightly higher slaughter weights, was somewhat different from that of cattle and pigs. The national average was 121,0 kilograms, 1,3 kilograms more than in the first half of 2003. The sheep also increased slightly: the national average slaughter weight increased by 200 grams to 21,9 kilograms.

Source: Bonn [ZmP]