Malta pig stocks up slightly in 2009

In December 2009, the pig population amounted to 65,918 heads, an increase of 0.6%, or 407 pigs over 2008.

Whereas the stock of piglets decreased by 8.1%, stocks of young and fattening pigs increased by 10.3% and 1.0% respectively. Breeding stock, consisting mainly of breeding sows, registered a decrease of 1.9% when compared to 2008.

The survey revealed that 139 holdings were engaged in pig production, of which 61.9% had fewer than 400 pigs. These accounted for 21.0%, or 13,869 heads, of the total stock. On the other hand, 38.1% of all holdings had more than 400 heads, with a total of 52,049 pigs, or 79.0% of the population.

On a regional level, pig stocks in Malta increased by 1.1% while a decrease of 6.0% was registered in Gozo and Comino. The number of pigs in Maltese farms amounted to 61,851, of which 36.0% were located in the Western District. The pig population in Gozo and Comino amounted to 4,067 heads, or 6.2% of the total stock.