June 27, 2012

Norway's pig farming industry shows growth efficiency

With a growing number of piglets produced per sow and a faster growth rate for piglets, the Norwegian pig farming industry is becoming increasingly efficient, according to Ingris 2011.

The average Norwegian pig farmer saw 23.5 piglets produced per sow in 2011, up by 0.3 piglets compared to 2010. Compared to 2007 the figure is up 1.1 piglets.

At the same time production in the slaughter industry has grown by 952 gram/day and the meat percentage has risen to 60.8% in 2011, up from 56.5% in 2007. The average weight of a pig at slaughter has risen to 80.3 kilogrammes, up from 77.9 kilogrammes.

Norway had some 2,500 pig farmers in 2011 and their first-hand sales value totalled NOK3.2 billion (US$532 million).