Pigs in Germany fell by 2% - sow population by about 5% compared to the previous year Pig farming in Germany is on its way back. The most recent livestock census from the beginning of May 2019 showed a reduction of pigs by 3.7% or almost 1 million fewer animals compared to the previous year. Thus, a longer trend continues. Within the last five years, the number of pigs kept in Germany fell by 7.8% or 2.2 million animals. The number of pig-holding operations also continued to fall, amounting to 21,600 units as of the reporting date of 3 May 2019. In November 2018, there were still 3.5% or 800 companies more. Compared to the same point in the previous year, the decline was 5.8% (-1,300 operations). The number of breeding sows is around approx. 4% fell back. The stock has shrunk to 1.8 million animals . 5 years ago, 2.5 million sows were kept in Germany. This will reduce the German piglet deficit to approx. 20% increase.The average pig population is calculated at 1,125 pigs per operating unit. The focus of pig farming is on the stock size category of 400 to 1000 pigs with a share of 35%, followed directly by the next largest group of 1000 to 2000 people with a share of 30%. The average sow population is 244 animals per unit. Sows of less than 100 mothers only account for 6.6%. In comparison Denmark with 1,000 sows per average stock and approx. 800 sows in the Netherlands is still a huge difference. The current high pork and piglet prices will provide little reason for larger investments or stock increases in view of the ongoing debate on the future livestock regulations. Too big is the risk of expensive bad investments. The regulations of the new fertilizer law also represent a significant impediment to restocking .
