New data highlights accelerating decline in UK breeding herd and pig production

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Herds: The number of herds in the sample has fallen from 239 in June 2021 to 199 in June 2022, a 17% year-on-year drop, following a steady decline since September.

Sows: The number of sows recorded in the sample fell by 27,000 over the course of the year to 154,600, a 15% drop, with a further decline of 7,500 since April. This will reflect both herds going out of business and producers paring back numbers.

Services: It is an even more dramatic picture with services recorded, which are down 24% from nearly 38,000 in June 2021 to just short of 29,000. While the monthly figures vary, the three-month rolling average paints a clearer picture, showing a 21% annual decline.

Weaned pigs: The breeding herd decline is showing through in pig numbers weaned. The June figure of 400,000, was only 19,500 down on a year ago, but after much lower April and May figures, the three-month rolling average, 357,000, was 13.5% down year-on-year. However, the starkest figures are forecasts for July and August, estimating that weaned numbers will plummet to around the 300,000-mark over the summer.

More at : pig-world.co.uk