Germany: The number of pig farms continues to decline

Farms keep an average of 300 more pigs than ten years ago The number of pigs kept in Germany as of November 3, 2024 was 21.2 million animals. This means that the population remained almost unchanged both compared to May 3, 2024 (+10,100 animals) and compared to the same time last year (-0.2% or -39,400 animals). Compared to 2014, however, the pig population fell by 25.2% or 7.2 million animals. Since the number of farms fell significantly more during this period, the trend towards larger farms continues: While in 2014 a farm kept an average of 1,100 pigs, ten years later this figure was 1,400 animals per farm. As of November 3, 2024, 9.7 million fattening pigs were kept in Germany, 3.0% or 282,900 more animals than six months previously. The number of piglets and young pigs, on the other hand, decreased by 2.5% or 254,700 animals and stood at 10.0 million. The number of breeding sows, with 1.4 million animals kept, decreased by 1.3% (-18,100 animals) compared to May 2024. Cattle ...