EU: Significant decline in sow numbers + increasing pig performance per sow => fewer piglets The latest livestock census results in major swine- holding EU Member States show declining numbers of sows in all countries except Spain . Overall, just under 3% fewer sows were found. The range, however, ranges from -0.4% in the UK to -13.3% in Poland . In Germany , 2.9% fewer sows were counted in 2019. Spain is the only country with a rising stock of sows, up 1.6% . At the same time, a significant improvement in the performance of the pigs can be observed. On the Iberian peninsula, there is still plenty of room for expansion . The stable buildings are extremely cheap.A key advantage for Spanish pig farming results from the predominant composite system from feed production to piglet production, fattening and subsequent slaughtering and meat processing. The disadvantage of high feed costs due to a low degree of self-sufficiency with grain is made up for again. In the other EU member states , it is expected that the availability of piglets will decrease. An increase in productivity of piglet production in the amount of +2.8 million piglets is not enough to compensate for the piglet failure of slaughtered sows from -6.58 million animals . For Germany , lower sowing numbers have a double effect. With an 80% self-sufficiency level, the drop in self-produced piglets is compounded by a decline in the export supply of the main supplier countries Denmark and Holland .In the competition for scarce piglets, those importing countries that offer the highest piglet prices are preferred. In addition to Germany, the main importing countries are Poland, Italy and some Southeastern European regions. The strongest competition exists between Poland and Germany , which from Denmark in each case approx. Import 6.5 million animals . Poland's imports, with a deficiency of nearly 40% , have caught up in recent years. Despite the above-average piglet prices, the Polish sow population in 2019 fell again by -13.3%. The reason for this is the high proportion of unprofitable small stands among 20 sows who are leaving production in the course of the generational change. Consistently high piglet prices could generally provide sufficient justification for stocking up . However, this is opposed to the current discussions about animal husbandry .Potential investors are deterred by the unclear legal requirements for future animal husbandry. In anticipation of further conditions, existing stocks will be abandoned because future profitability is no longer seen. In the traditional processing areas of northern Europe , pig numbers will decline overall as the sowing numbers decline. Only when the sow stock shrinks by less than 1.2%, can be made with a sustained increase in performance of piglet production a balance.
