According to preliminary results from the Statistical Office of North Rhine-Westphalia, as of May 3, 2022, the pig herd in Germany's second-largest pig-producing state reached 6.1 million head, down 3.4% from November 2021 (6.3 million head). Likewise, the number of pig farms also fell by 2.3% (6,030), which represents 140 fewer farms than six months ago.
By category, in May of this year, the number of finishing pigs, which represent almost 50% of the total pig herd, was 2.97 million head (-5.1% compared to November 2021). The number of finishing pigs between 50 and 80 kg experienced a slight increase (+1.8%), with 1.36 million head, but, on the other hand, the number of finishing pigs between 80 and 110 kg (-11%), with 1.28 million head, and 110 kg (-7.6%), with 337,200 head, fell. The number of young pigs <50kg also decreased, with 987,000 head (-11.8%), while the number of piglets grew, with 1.77 million head (+4.9%).
June 29, 2022/ Statistical Office of North Rhine-Westphalia/ Germany.
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