Portugal: Breeding sows drops by 8.3 percent in December 2022

Preliminary data published by IFAP and relating to the number of pigs in Portugal, shows us that the total number, in December 2022, was 2184700 head, which represents a reduction of 1.47% or 32629 head less than in December 2021, in which the total herd was 2217329 head and a reduction of 0.38% or 8364 head compared to August 2022 (2193064 head total). With regard to breeding sows (primiparous, multiparous and lactating), for the first time since there are records that the herd was less than 190,000 sows, even below 180,000 breeding sows. Thus, the herd in December 2022 was 177648 head, -8.3% or -16065 head than in December 2021 (193713) and 7.5% or -14414 head less than in August 2022 (192062 sows) . In relation to non-mated gilts, the total was 23088 heads in December 2022, 0.4% higher than December 2021 (22987) and 8.1% higher than August 2022 (21357). There is also a reduction in the number of piglets weighing less than 20 kg, which were 792,744 head in December 2022 compared ...