Belgium: Lowest feed production seen in over a decade

The new animal welfare label "Better for animals" is awarded to products that make extra efforts for animal welfare beyond the legal requirements.

Sick pigs will no longer be required to be sampled for ASF. Belgium has not had any infected animals since 2020.

The pig feed sector was most severely affected in 2023, experiencing a further decline of almost 2.5 million tons.

Wallonia is once again taking measures against the overpopulation of wild boars that they have been struggling with for years in the south of the country.

This expansion of the regulations comes at the request of the industry, which is struggling with a lack of veterinarians.

Higher grain prices prompted Belgian farmers to grow more spring grains and maize in 2022. The pig inventory declined.

The decrease was possible due to various sector initiatives to reduce the use of antibiotics in agricultural animals.

The European Commission has approved a €200 million Flemish scheme to compensate for the reduction or closure of pig production.

The number of pigs slaughtered in Belgium fell by almost 10% in 2022, to a level not seen in 30 years.

In December there was a sharp decrease in the number of pigs slaughtered with pig inventory decreasing less rapidly.

The combined index should be a better representation of the market evolution and thus contribute to greater transparency in the sector.