December 20, 2022

UK female breeding pig herd plunges to lowest level in more than two decades

The United Kingdom's female breeding pig herd has fallen by 14% to 343,000 head, the lowest level in more than 20 years.

Defra census data from June 1 showed the total breeding herd, including boars and first-time gilts, had fallen by 15% on year-earlier levels to 426,000 pigs. The numbers of sows and gilts in pig were down by 12% and 22%, respectively, which indicates the number of fattening pigs coming through will continue to shrink.

Total pig numbers dropped to 5.2 million, down by 2.5% on the 2021 figure. Pig prices remain below cost of production, with the EU-spec standard pig price (SPP) averaging 200.1p/kg for the week ending December 10.

Carol Davis, lead analyst in farm economics at the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), said: "We continue to see a turbulent marketplace for inputs, with feed values playing a prominent role in the changes to November's estimate.

"Compound spot feed prices that witnessed increases in October have eased in the November estimate, although still higher than the levels seen in the spring.

"With the bank base rate now at 2.93% for November, short and long-term interest rates have increased. Fuel prices continue to fluctuate, and energy prices are being maintained, but at an elevated level."

In November, UK clean pig slaughterings totalled 995,000 pigs, up 0.5% on the same month last year. However, pigmeat production was down 1.5% on November 2021 levels at 92,000t.

At an average of 89.4kg in November, carcass weights remain at elevated levels, despite being marginally down on the previous month and the same month last year.

- Farmers Weekly