Danish pig breeding herd numbers recover in April

The number of sows in Denmark is increasing again, data from the April 1 pig survey showed, according to AHDB Pork.

This follows the January 1 pig count which recorded little change on the previous year, as well as falling numbers in 2016.

According to the pork division of the UK Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board, the upturn is being helped by much better profitability as the finished (fattened) pig market has moved up steadily since last spring.

The upturn in the breeding herd was confirmed by the fall in sow slaughterings and live exports, which were down 9% in the first three months.

Reflecting the increased sow herd, piglet numbers in April were up by 2%, although young pigs, or those less than 50 kilogrammes, were largely unchanged.

The number of slaughter pigs over 50 kg on April 1 was down 8%, just like in January.

Exports of weaners (newly weaned pigs) especially to Poland continued to increase. However, based on data published by Landbrug & Fødevarer, the Danish agriculture and food board, there was evidence of some slowdown in the growth of this trade as weaner exports in the first quarter grew only 1%, in contrast to the 11% rise in 2016. This should lead to the continuing reduction of clean pig slaughterings in Denmark, which were down 5% in the first quarter and in line with the fall in 2016.