Lower meat production in first quarter

Livestock meat production at slaughterhouses in the first quarter dropped five per cent compared to the same period last year, according to figures released by the National Statistics Office.

Production between January and March amounted to 4,837 tonnes, down from 5,119 tonnes.

The NSO noted that no cattle were slaughtered for over three weeks in January and February due to a running dispute between the Malta Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU, and the Milk Producers Cooperative over a production bonus and meat grading.

When compared to the same quarter last year, beef and pig meat production dropped by 20.1 per cent and 18.8 per cent respectively, while the production of broiler meat went up by 14.6 per cent to 2,356 tonnes.

According to the NSO, the decline in the production of beef and pig meat was a result of a reduction in the slaughter of cattle and pigs.

The average carcass weight of cattle and pigs remained relatively stable. On the other hand, the number of broilers slaughtered increased by 12 per cent to 1,370,108 heads.

The total producer value of slaughtered livestock went down by 8.9 per cent, to Lm3,130,329 from Lm3,437,470 in the first quarter of 2003.

The pig industry was mainly responsible for this drop. The drop in pig slaughters resulted in pig breeders earning Lm340,248 less - Lm1,464,932 compared to Lm1,805,180.

On the other hand, the producer value of slaughtered broilers increased by 6.8 per cent to Lm1,338,882 from Lm1,253,594. This was due to the increase in the volume of broilers slaughtered.

The carcass weight of livestock slaughtered in Gozitan slaughterhouses increased by 43.4 per cent to 654 tonnes, from 456 tonnes in the first quarter of 2003.

The increase in the carcass weight was mainly the result of a substantial increase in the number of broilers slaughtered. In fact, broilers killed in Gozitan slaughterhouses increased by 47.3 per cent to 341,041.

A drop of 3.6 per cent in pig slaughter was registered.