Pig and cattle slaughterings higher due to Easter

In the run-up to Easter, extra pigs and cattle were still slaughtered in the Netherlands. In the pig market, the higher number of slaughterings eases the shortage a little, while the number of slaughterings in the cattle market is again much higher than we have been used to in recent years. The number of slaughterings in the Netherlands made a final sprint in the last moment toward Easter. The slaughter figure rose from 262.088 pigs in week 11 to 271.103. This is the highest slaughter figure since week 6, when the market was still slaughtering the pig glut around Christmas. However, the slaughter figure is 7,5% below the level of the same week in 2025. Far more cattle slaughtered A similar development is also visible in the cattle market. Between week 2 and 7, significantly more dairy cows were slaughtered. Up to and including week 11, the slaughter figure normalized, but in week 12 the slaughter figure increased sharply again to above last year’s level. In that week, 11.743 cattle were slaughtered. That is an increase of no less than 14,8% compared with the year before. The number of slaughterings is also well above the five year average. The number of slaughterings was no less than 11,3% higher this year. Producing for cold storage It is clear that the larger supply has contributed to the recent pressure on slaughter cattle prices in our country. Now that prices are a bit lower, it is attractive for slaughterhouses again to slaughter some extra cattle for cold stocks. The expectation is that demand for beef will recover somewhat later this year. Because the market at European level is still tight, slaughterhouses generally have confidence in the market to store product.