Denmark’s Pig Breeding Herd Starting to Fall
16.02.2016
Provisional figures from the 1 January pig census show that the number of pigs in Denmark remained stable in 2015, ending the year at 12.7 million head.
Declines were particularly prevalent for in-pig sows (-3 per cent) and in-pig gilts (-4 per cent), whilst maiden gilts saw a 10 per cent increase to 221,000 head.
Danish Pig Numbers, 1 January
| 2015 | 2016 | % change | |
| 000 heads |
| ||
| Total sows of which: | 1,245 | 1,237 | -1% |
| 603 | 586 | -3% |
| 199 | 191 | -4% |
| 199 | 221 | +11% |
| Piglets | 2,579 | 2,474 | -4% |
| Young pigs < 50 kg | 5,666 | 5,826 | +3% |
| Slaughter pigs > 50 kg | 3,208 | 3,154 | -2% |
| Total pigs | 12,709 | 12,207 | -0% |
Source: Statistics Denmark
2015 was a very challenging year Europe-wide for pig prices, and Danish producers have seen their prices fall from a high of DKK1,026 (€138) per 100kg in June 2015 to DKK909 (€122) per 100kg in January 2016 — a decrease of 11 per cent.
Danish prices have stabilised in the New Year, aided by the Private Storage Aid (PSA) scheme, during which the Danes stored 12,000 tonnes of pork.
Whilst the number of slaughter pigs in Denmark was slightly reduced (-2 per cent), there was an increase in the number of young pigs, suggesting that there may be a small rise in Danish production in the first half of 2016 as these go through the system.
Production levels are then forecast to tighten in the second half of 2016, as the effects of the rationalisation of the breeding herd start to hit.
Potentially this could provide some support to prices in the second half of the year, depending on developments elsewhere in Europe.
