Meat production in the third quarter of this year fell by 12.3 per cent to 3,190 tonnes when compared to the same quarter last year, according to the National Statistics Office.

Pig meat production declined by 18.2 per cent and broiler meat production dropped by 4.7 per cent. Beef production increased by one per cent due to a 12.4 per cent rise in the number of cattle slaughtered.

In contrast, 15.2 per cent fewer pigs and 11.1 per cent fewer broilers were slaughtered in the third quarter.

The producer value of animals slaughtered in the quarter amounted to €5.89 million, a drop of €0.26 million over 2008's third quarter.

The producer value of slaughtered cattle fell by 5.1 per cent on account of lower prices fetched on the market, from an average of €2.61 per kilogram in the third quarter of 2008 to €2.45 per kilogram in the quarter under review.

The producer value of pigs declined by 9.4 per cent due to a decrease in the number of pigs slaughtered although the average price per kilo increased.

The producer value of broiler meat production rose by 7.2 per cent.

This was mainly due to an increase of 12.2 per cent in the average price per kilogram fetched on the market, from €1.56 in 2008 to €1.75 in 2009.