Pig and sow populations in Germany are shrinking considerably. According to the latest cattle survey in May 2020, only 25.375 million pigs were counted in Germany. At the same time in 2015, there were still 28.1 million animals in the stables. The decline in stocks continues until recently. In May of the previous year, 2.6% more pigs were counted. In the sub-group of breeding sow herds, the 5-year reduction in stock is even more serious at -12.5%. Since Germany already has a 20% piglet deficit, the lack of piglets will be even greater in the future. Higher piglet yields per sow and year cannot compensate for such reductions. The necessary piglet imports with a focus on Denmark and Holland make the price of the piglet more expensive in Germany. In Germany there are still 20,400 pig farmers, including 7,000 pig farmers. Since predominantly smaller units are abandoned, the decline in pig-keeping operations is even greater. In the past year alone, almost -4% of the pig farmers closed the barn doors.It was -3% for the sows. The average pig population per farmer is now 1,244 animals, and the trend is rising. 10 years earlier there were 794 animals. An average sow owner now has 253 breeding animals in his stables. Ten years ago, the population was 123 breeding animals. In the past 10 years it has been shown that the larger stocks can hold their own better than the smaller operating units. Rising costs are subject to the degression of costs with growing company size. The higher the future (animal husbandry) requirements, the larger the average stocks.
