April 2025 Slaughter Statistics: Increases in Most Categories, Decline in Cattle

In April 2025, compared to March 2025, both the number of animals slaughtered and their carcass weight increased for pigs, sheep and goats, and poultry, while both indicators declined for cattle.

When compared to April 2024, the number of slaughters and carcass weight also rose for pigs, sheep and goats, and poultry. For cattle, the number of slaughters remained stable, while carcass weight increased.

Definition of "Carcass Weight"

• a) Cattle: Carcass weight refers to the weight of the entire slaughtered animal’s body after the removal of hide, blood, and internal organs, and excludes the head, udder, tail, kidney fat, and feet (separated at the metacarpal and metatarsal joints).
• b) Pigs: Carcass weight refers to the weight of the slaughtered animal, either whole or halved along the spine, after bleeding, and excluding internal organs, hair, hooves, tongue, leaf fat, and diaphragm.
• c) Sheep and Goats: Carcass weight is the weight of the slaughtered animal after bleeding and skin removal, excluding internal organs, head, and feet (cut at the metacarpal and metatarsal joints). However, kidneys and kidney fat are included in the carcass.
• d) Poultry: Carcass weight refers to the weight of the slaughtered bird after bleeding, with the removal of feathers, down, internal organs (intestines, liver, heart, gizzard), head, neck, and claws.