Europeoan Union - Changes in the types of pig farm
24-Feb-2010 (16 years 3 months 15 days ago)
The number of small breeders follows the trend in the number of small farms, i.e. a general decrease, which is especially marked where there are proportionally more small farms. The number of pigs is falling at a similar rate, as there is a strong link between these two numbers. The number of large fatteners is increasing apart from in a few countries. There, although the number of large farms is stable, their average size is continuing to increase. On average, between the 2003 and 2007 surveys, the number of pigs for the large fatteners doubled, with more extreme figures being seen at national level. At EU level, the increase was 16.4%.
Although the number of large breeders has increased in only a few countries, the average
number of sows per farm increased in every country, except BG, AT and SI. The average
number of other pigs increased everywhere except in LU, SI and AT. In all but a few countries, the number of other pig farms decreased, as did the number of sows and other pigs. Since the 2000 survey, the number of sows in these farms fell steadily by 2.5% per year in EU-15.
Although the number of large breeders has increased in only a few countries, the average
number of sows per farm increased in every country, except BG, AT and SI. The average
number of other pigs increased everywhere except in LU, SI and AT. In all but a few countries, the number of other pig farms decreased, as did the number of sows and other pigs. Since the 2000 survey, the number of sows in these farms fell steadily by 2.5% per year in EU-15.