EU loses a 3rd of its sows in 20 years – Swine information

From 2004 to 2024, the European Union diminished its breeding sow inhabitants by greater than 4.8 million animals, from 15.02 million to 10.15 million. Regardless of this important discount within the variety of breeding sows – a 32.4 % drop in 20 years – whole pigmeat manufacturing has barely modified. In 2004, the Member States produced roughly 21.1 million tons of pigmeat, whereas in 2024 this determine will stay just about unchanged at 21.04 million tons.

All EU-27 Member States have seen their breeding herds lower, apart from Spain, which has not solely maintained however barely elevated its herd from 2.606 million in 2004 to 2.611 million in 2024, however has elevated its pigmeat manufacturing by nearly 60% in these 20 years, from 3.08 million tons in 2004 to 4.92 million tons in 2024, consolidating its place as the principle EU producer from 2021 onwards.

For the opposite major producing nations, we notice that this variation has not been homogeneous:

• Germany, which had nearly 2.47 million sows in 2004, has seen its stock diminished to 1.39 million in 2024, a lack of a couple of million animals (-43%);
• Denmark noticed a much less marked decline of 17%, from 1.4 million head in 2004 to 1.16 million head in 2024;
• France has additionally suffered a big discount, from 1.29 to 0.83 million sows (-36%);
• The Netherlands reveals a lower of 30%, from 1.12 million head in 2004 to 783,000 in 2024;
• Poland, with 1.65 million in 2004, has skilled a extreme contraction in its stock, with 600,000 sows in 2024 (-63%).

Italy and Portugal have suffered reductions decrease than the EU common. Italy has gone from 724,800 sows in 2004 to 596,990 in 2024, a drop of 17.6%, whereas Portugal has diminished its invenory by 15.7%, from 261,400 to 220,460 sows.

Keep in mind, you will discover stock, manufacturing, and commerce information on our “Pig manufacturing information” web page.

Might 30, 2025/ 333 Workers with Eurostat information.