Number of sows covered at lowest point since 1980

How many fewer piglets are there actually, since piglet prices are rising rapidly at the beginning of this year? From the December count of the Central Bureau of Statistics shows that there are actually fewer piglets in the Netherlands, while the pig herd as a whole drops through the psychological limit of 12 million.

For the first time since December 2009, the Dutch pig population is again below the limit of 12 million animals. In December last year, a total of 11.881.000 pigs were counted, a decrease of 535.000 animals compared to April. A large drop is visible in the piglet herd. Compared to the April count, the number of piglets in sows has decreased by 235.000 to a number of 1.896.000. The number of sows covered also shows remarkable figures. With a number of 664.000, this group shows the lowest number since 1980, the oldest measurement moment since Statistics Netherlands published digitally. Of course, the sow in 2017 is not the sow from 1980, as the annual piglet production per sow has increased significantly. 

The maxim applied by Wageningen Economic Research is that a 2 percent shrinkage in the sow herd ensures stabilization in piglet production. With a decrease of 3,4 percent in the total number of sows, compared to December 2015, the decrease in 2016 is therefore significantly above the maxim from Wageningen.  

The number of young pigs up to 50 kilos also has a large minus of more than 400.000 animals to approximately 4,8 million. The number of finishing pigs, on the other hand, is on the rise and, with 4,14 million animals, is again the highest level in three years. However, given that there are significantly fewer piglets and young pigs, it is logical that this translates into a smaller pig herd and that is a positive signal for price formation on the pig market. Also on the cost side, fewer animals usually bring a number of advantages. This makes it easier for the sector to stay below the sector ceiling for pig farming and perhaps some relief on the manure market may also arise. 

While the sector also tries to reduce phosphate emissions by means of the feed track, it is logical that there is a lot of resistance - among pig farmers and advocates - to extra government intervention with regard to, for example, the abolition of the POR scheme. This is because the sector also remained below the stipulated phosphate ceiling last year. 

Progression of sow herd in number *1000

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is editor-in-chief of Boerenbusiness. He also focuses on dairy, pig and meat markets. He also follows (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

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