Pig population stable in Poland. Experts warn of declines
In the first quarter, Poland recorded a decrease of more than 670,000 animals while the second quarter saw the arrival of more than 477,000 animals, according to an analysis based on data from the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture as of June 30, 2024.
What are the facts?
- Year-on-year stabilization is apparent – 9,246,726 pigs were raised in the first half of 2023, while 9,210,349 pigs were raised in the same period of 2024.
- The number of herds decreased in the second quarter of 2024 by 0.8% compared to the first quarter - 402 herds were lost, but at the same time 477,580 pigs were added
- In the whole of the first half of 2024, a total of 1,923 herds were liquidated, and the decrease in herds amounted to 193,903 animals.
What can we expect?
Pig producers in Poland have let the almost two-year period of earning money from pig fattening settle down, and the mood is so good that almost 0.5 million pigs in piggeries arrived in the second quarter. […] Of course, this is at the expense of increased imports of piglets from Denmark, as the Polish core herd of less than 600,000 sows is not capable of rebuilding the number of fattening pigs on the domestic market so quickly. Imports of piglets from Denmark oscillate at 6-7 million animals per year. In 2023 alone it amounted to 6.7 million animals. Until 2-3 months ago, we also had a stabilized situation with ASF. Now, after 12 outbreaks in pig herds as of 4.07 in areas of considerable concentration of production, we can expect a correction of the population in the negative.
- Piotr Karnas, director of pig development at Gobarto Breeder.
Source: PortalSpożywczy.pl