July 2, 2024

More than 10,000 pig farms in Germany as of May 3

There were about 15,700 pig farms in Germany as of May 3, 2024.

According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), based on the preliminary results of a livestock structure survey, the number of farms decreased by 3.2% (-500) compared to November 3, 2023. Compared to the previous year (May 3, 2023), the number fell by 3.4% (-600) and compared to two years ago by 12.4% (-2,200). In a 10-year comparison, the number of farms fell by 42.2% (-11,400 since 2014).

As of May 3, the number of pigs raised in Germany totaled 20.9 million head. The census was down 1.3% or 275,200 head from November 3, 2023, and remained almost unchanged (-1,200 head) from May 3, 2023.

The number of pigs has decreased significantly over the last ten years (-25.4% or -7.1 million head) but to a lesser extent than the number of farms. Therefore, the trend towards larger farms continues. While the average was 1,000 pigs/farm in 2014, the average today is 1,300 pigs/farm 10 years later.

By animal category, as of May 3, there were 9.4 million fattening pigs in Germany (-2% or -195,200 head compared to November 2023). The number of piglets and young pigs decreased slightly (-0.8% or -85,900 head), with 10.2 million head.

The number of breeding sows remained nearly constant compared to November 2023 at 1.4 million head (-0.2% or -3,100 head).

- Destatis