Dutch pig stock at lowest point in 40 years

According to Statistics Netherlands, the Netherlands had 2023 million pigs in April 10,93, a decrease of 3,1%. The Dutch pig herd has not been this low for 40 years. In April 2022, Dutch pig farmers still kept a total of 11,28 million pigs. That was already 1,6% lower than in April 2021.

Germany is shrinking more
In Germany the decline is much faster. However, the figures for the German pig herd have been corrected upwards. According to the most recent data, Germany had 20,9 million pigs in May, according to data from the German government's statistics office Destatis. This means that the pig herd will decrease by 6,2% or 1,4 million pigs. Destatis previously estimated the German pig herd at 20,7 million pigs, 7,3% less than last year. Despite the correction, the German pig herd is at its lowest point since 1990.

The shrinkage can be explained by a large number of farmers who are giving up work. In May, Germany had 16.200 pig farmers, 1.700 fewer than in the same month last year. The number of livestock farmers is therefore shrinking less rapidly than last year. Last year, 18% of pig farmers chose to close their business. In May 2021, Germany still had 19.800 pig farms, 3.600 more than in 2022.