Livestock census Nov 2024: Pig herds stabilize - at a greatly reduced level
The preliminary results of the most recent livestock census in Nov. 2024 showed little change in livestock numbers. Compared to the same month last year, the total number of pigs was 21.18 million (previous year: 21.22 million). The low was in May 2023 with 20.95 million; the high was recorded in Nov 2014 with 28.34 million pigs. The number of pigs kept has therefore fallen by 25% in the last decade. The number of farm units with pigs has more than halved in the same period.
The number of sows reached a level of 1.42 million animals again in November 2024. This means that the low of less than 1,394 million in May 2023 has been exceeded again. In comparison: 2.1 million sows were still kept in May 2014.
The number of sow farms will only be just under 5,000 units in 2024. Around 10 years ago, there were still 14,500 herds.
The reasons for the stabilizing pig herds lie in the increased producer prices and partly in the feed costs, which have stabilized again - albeit at a higher level. More recently, however, increased energy costs and environmental and animal husbandry requirements have been added to this again, making the future outlook gloomy.
Contrary to previous decades, a cyclical upturn is therefore not to be expected. It can be assumed that the stock level, which has been reduced by around 25 %, will be maintained for the foreseeable future.
