Significantly fewer pig slaughters in Belgium

Published 2023년 1월 26일

Tridge summary

Belgium has seen a 4% decrease in slaughterings of all animals, including chickens, cattle, and pigs, in December 2022 compared to the previous year, totaling 25.7 million. The most significant decrease was in pig slaughters, down by 13.4%, with Belgium's pig herd also declining by 4.9% to 5.85 million pigs. This decline is part of a broader crisis in the European pig farming sector, which has been ongoing for nearly two years due to a surplus in the market and the impact of African swine fever. However, there are signs of potential stabilization as pig production in Northwest Europe, including Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark, is projected to decline, which could establish a new market equilibrium and support prices.

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Original content

Experts see the declining figures as proof of the poor market conditions and poor prospects for the future in the sector. In December 2022, a decrease can be seen in Belgium in all animals, chickens, cattle and pigs. That decrease is 4 percent compared to a year earlier, bringing the total number of slaughterings to 25.7 million. The majority of these are poultry. The decrease in the number of pig slaughters is sharp at 13.4 percent compared to the decrease in all livestock. Joris Coenen of the Belgian Meat Office (BMO), the meat export office of the Flemish Center for Agro- and Fisheries Marketing (VLAM), partly explains the strong decline due to the continuing weak economic climate in pig farming. 'Because of the low margins, the pig farmers raise fewer piglets, resulting in fewer slaughters.' Falling pig herd The crisis in pig farming is also reflected in a decline in pig herds. Belgium had 5.85 million pigs last year, compared to 6.15 million in 2021. That amounts to a ...

Source: Nieuwe Oogst