Preliminary results of the livestock census The preliminary results of the livestock census of November 3, 2022 show a reduction in the pig population of -10.1% compared to the previous year's date. From May to November 2022 alone, 4.5% fewer animals were kept. In the sow area, the decrease rates in a six-month comparison are even -6.6%. The background is the unusually low piglet prices with high feed and energy costs. The number of pig farms fell by 10.1% to 16,900 units within a year. Looking back over 10 years , the number of pig farms has fallen by 43.3%, while the number of pigs has fallen by 24.7%. As a result, the average number of animals per farm has increased from 949 to 1,259.The future legal framework for animal husbandry , in connection with increased costs in the feed and energy sector, will contribute to further reductions in German pig farming.
