News Pigs
Fewer sows in Europe, but growth in the Netherlands?
Recent figures from Eurostat statistics show that the number of sows counted in the European Union in June 2021 was lower than in December 2020. This may be the first indication of a tighter supply of pigs in 2022. The growth in the number of sows in the Netherlands is striking. , this after the sharp contraction in 2020. What about that?
The animal count in the European member states of May/June this year (in addition to the decrease in the number of sows) also shows a decrease in the number of finishing pigs. In particular, the number of heavy fattening pigs (above 110 kilos) fell sharply compared to December 2020. At that time, many European countries saw an increased supply of live pigs due to corona-related capacity problems at the slaughterhouses. However, the number of finishing pigs in the other categories also decreased.
Growth in the Netherlands, Denmark and Spain
The number of pigs is not shrinking everywhere. The number of sows in the Netherlands, Spain and Denmark grew in the period from December 2020 to June 2021. This goes against the European trend. For example, the number of sows rose by 2,4% domestically (or a plus of 22.000 animals), in Spain by 1,1% (+28.000 animals) and in Denmark by 0,2% (+2.000 animals).
In other countries, the sow herd shrank over the first half of the year. The sharp decline of 10% in France (-104.000 animals), 9,8% in Poland (-80.000 animals) and 3,4% in Germany (-58.000 animals) is striking. On balance, the European sow herd in May/June this year was 2,4% smaller compared to December last year. That means a decrease of 239.000 sows.
Also fewer meat pigs
Fewer fattening pigs were also counted in European barns in June. In the weight category 20 kilos to 50 kilos the number decreased by 2,4%, in the category 50 kilos and heavier the shrinkage was even 4,6%. Within this last category, the number of heavy fattening pigs weighing more than 110 kilos decreased in particular, ie by 20,3%. A sign that the slaughter backlog had largely been made up by then.
Bearing in mind the poor pricing of the past six months, analysts expect the number of sows to have also decreased in recent months. Especially in countries like Germany and Poland. Whether this is actually the case will become clear in December when Eurostat releases another new count.
Where does the growth come from?
The growth in our own country is particularly striking. In 2020, the Dutch sow herd shrank sharply. Statistics Netherlands also counted a considerably smaller number of sows on an annual basis in April this year than in April last year. How is it possible that Eurostat observes growth between December 2020 and June 2021?
Eurostat uses figures as supplied by Statistics Netherlands for the counts, Cor Pierik explains when asked. He adds that the December numbers are determined on the basis of a random count. "The count in April is integral and serves as the basis for the figures that Eurostat publishes in June. All pig farms provide the animal numbers for this. We determine the numbers in December on the basis of a large sample. But because not all farms are approached, it is not possible to there may be some noise on the line, so a margin of error of 2% upwards and downwards can occur."
Pierik calls the comparison of the year-on-year changes on April 1 the most reliable and indicates that the 2,4% growth compared to December, as reflected in the European figures, may not be an entirely accurate representation of the reality.
no growth
However, this does not mean that no growth has occurred over the period from December 2020 to June 2021. The reasonable market prospects and higher piglet prices over this period have also tempted breeders to breed more sows than last autumn, something that Pierik also sees as a realistic explanation for part of the increase. "If each sow farmer covers an extra few sows, this can quickly lead to an overall increase in the number of animals."
Steve Wissink
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