Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • Innovation supplement 2024
    • Pig & Poultry Fair Guide 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • Pig Nutrition (Beyond Zinc)
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • National Pig Awards Supplement 2023
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. May 2025
    2. April 2025
    3. March 2025
    4. 2025 Buildings supplement
    5. February 2025
    6. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    7. January 2025
    8. December 2024
    9. November 2024
    10. National Pig Awards supplement
    11. October 2024
    12. September 2024
    13. August 2024
    14. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    15. July 2024
    16. June 2024
    17. Innovation supplement 2024
    18. Pig & Poultry Fair Guide 2024
    19. May 2024
    20. April 2024
    21. Buildings Supplement
    22. March 2024
    23. Pig Nutrition (Beyond Zinc)
    24. February 2024
    25. January 2024
    26. December 2023
    27. November 2023
    28. National Pig Awards Supplement 2023
    29. October 2023
    30. September 2023
    31. Health Supplement
    Featured

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025
    Recent

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025

    April 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    April 4, 2025

    March 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    March 6, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
Business

First EU breeding herd rise in nearly 10 years could still be a “blip”

PW ReportersBy PW ReportersSeptember 29, 20143 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

Subdued demand for pork from EU consumers, plus the impact of a closed Russian market until “at least next summer” could easily mean that the current upturn in the EU breeding herd ends up being more of a blip than a turning point, according to BPEX.

Quoting figures from the May/June agricultural surveys carried out in the major EU Member States, covering over 90% of Europe’s pig herd, BPEX highlight an upturn in breeding pig numbers as the most significant key factor to emerge.

“The number of sows has increased by nearly 1% compared with June 2013,” said BPEX. “Although the list of countries conducting a June survey has changed over time, this seems to be the first rise since 2005. Certainly, the December figures for the whole EU have declined every year since 2006.

“Looking at the figures in more detail, the number of in-pig gilts was almost unchanged from last year. However, maiden gilt numbers were up 4% overall, suggesting that some producers were still looking to expand. This was particularly the case in Spain, where gilt numbers were up very sharply, hinting at particular optimism among its pig producers.”

With the EU’s four largest breeding herds, Spain, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands, all recording increases in the last year, the obvious question is whether or not this marks the end of the long-term decline of the EU breeding herd.

“Not necessarily,” concluded BPEX. “The figures came after a year when higher pig prices and lower feed costs mean that profitability has been better. Most producers will have been making money, at least for part of the year. However, pig prices this summer failed to reach the high levels of the last two years and the market is now starting to fall sharply.”

While the figures suggest that EU pig meat production will rise in the short-term, therefore, the longer term picture remains unclear.

“Demand for pork from EU consumers is still subdued and the Russian market is now set to be closed to EU exporters until at least next summer,” added BPEX. “Therefore, any increase in supplies is likely to put pressure on prices. The herd numbers suggest that growth could be fairly significant, making the outlook for prices appear relatively pessimistic. If that turns out to be the case, the upturn in the EU breeding herd may end up being a blip rather than a turning point.”

See full BPEX report

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleQuality kit on offer at North Farm sale
Next Article BBC focus on NPA’s new confidential reporting service
PW Reporters

Read Similar Stories

Higher FSA meat plant inspection fees come into force today

April 1, 2025

Cranswick on course for healthy 2024/25 profits, after strong Q4 trade

March 20, 2025

Sainsbury’s and Cranswick announce new long-term commitment to British pig production

March 20, 2025
Latest News

National PRRS control and biosecurity programme making strides in Scotland

May 9, 2025

Historic UK-US trade deal – industry reaction

May 8, 2025

New grants to be available for pig farmers as Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) re-opens

May 8, 2025
Sponsored Content

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024

Tackle the root cause of PWD with free diagnostic tests

March 1, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Experienced Pig Stockperson – Ref 1736 South East England

    • South East England
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Senior Pig Stockperson – Ref 1735 Somerset

    • Somerset
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Farm Manager

    • Mullingar, Co.Westmeath, Ireland
    • Clondrisse Pig Farm LTD
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.