Danish pig herd expanding

By Bethan Wilkins

The latest figures published by Statistics Denmark show that overall pig numbers totalled 12.7 million head on 1 April 2020. This is a 5% increase compared with the same quarter in the previous year.

The breeding herd had also expanded noticeably compared with April 2019. However, maiden gilts were relatively stable, suggesting the expansion may ease in the coming months. Although there would have been optimism about export prospects to China, producer confidence has probably been dented by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Strong productivity led to a 6% rise in piglet numbers. The number of heavier finishing pigs was also noticeably higher. Weaner exports to Poland and Germany seem to have been lower across January and February (the latest data available) which would also support slaughter pig numbers.

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