The EU pig census registers its biggest drop in more than 20 years

The EU pig census fell to its lowest level in more than two decades at the end of 2022, according to the latest data from the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat). Only the data for Malta is missing and the results for Italy cannot be compared with previous years due to a new survey method. Therefore, in the 35 remaining member states, in December 2022, there were 25.5 million pigs registered. Consequently, 7.68 million or 5.8% less than twelve months before. There has never been such a sharp drop in this century. In absolute numbers, German farmers are the ones who reduced their stocks the most, specifically by 2.43 million animals or 10.2% to 21.33 million heads. Also, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Lithuania registered a decrease of around 10% compared to the previous year. In Spain, the leader in pigs in the EU, higher production costs were also noted and for the first time since 2011, the population there decreased again, by 1.1% to 34.08 million animals and ...