Pig prices recorded a substantial drop in the most recent figures - the sixth consecutive reduction.
The EU-spec Standard Pig Price (SPP) dropped back by a significant amount - 1.75p to 221.72p/kg during the week ended September 30. This was the biggest weekly fall in 2023.
The price index currently stands just over 21p ahead of a year ago.
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Following the previous week's loss of 1.11p/kg, the APP, which includes premium pigs, gained 0.25p/kg to reach 223.18p/kg during the week ended September 23.
Pig prices
In the EU, prices in a number of countries - including Germany - have fallen back, which has added pressure to the SPP.
Outdoor bred pork demand was affected at retail, with consumers making shopping changes due to the cost of living crisis.
Over the last few years, outdoor bred pork and pigmeat has outperformed the total pork market. However, this year the trend appears to have reversed, according to AHDB.
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Charlotte Forkes-Rees, retail and consumer insight analyst, said consumers were scaling back their spending at mealtimes by reducing the amount of meals including meat or trading down portions or cuts.
"This appears to be negatively impacting both primary pork and OBD pigmeat products performance," she said.
She said outdoor bred was considered a premium tier within pig meat, with increased interest during Covid-19 lockdowns as people looked for an affordable, premium experience at home.
Outdoor bred
In the 52 weeks to June 12, outdoor bred pigmeat saw a volume reduction of more than 11 per cent year on year; faster than seen for both total pigmeat and primary pork.
Ms Forkes-Rees said: "Outdoor bred pigmeat is, however, outperforming organic pigmeat, which has seen a 17 per cent volume reduction over the same period.
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"Unsurprisingly, price, and price increases, are likely a deciding factor in the reduced performance seen by outdoor bred products."
Ms Forkes-Rees highlighted outdoor bred claims had reduced in importance for consumers, with data from research by AHDB and YouGov showing only 22 per cent of consumers said that outdoor bred claims were important to them when buying premium pork products in May 2023. This was down 1 per cent year on year, but 7 per cent lower than in 2021.
