0
At the end of March 2009, the livestock of pigs came to 13.3 mln heads. Such a small number pigs of heads had not been recorded since 1970. The reduction in the livestock of pigs occurred in every utility-weight group. The number of sows for breeding diminished to 1 350 thous., of which sows in farrow to approx. 890 thous., i.e. in relation to the previous year by 5.2% and 3.0% fewer, respectively. There were by 14.5% fewer piglets, 16.5% – young pigs, and by 17.9% fewer pigs for fattening. As a result of a gradual increase in the profitability of pig production in all utility-weight groups since December 2008, the decline pace in the livestock of pigs decreased in comparison with the results of a survey conducted in November in the previous year. The decline rate was most reduced in the basic herd of sows, of which sows in farrow, which proved that producers had taken measures to reconstruct the herd. A significant drop in the domestic supply of pigs for slaughter resulted in forming of their prices on the high level, that hasn’t as of yet been noted. In June 2009, 1 kg of pigs for slaughter cost more than the previous year (by 17.5% more in procurement, and 11.6% in marketplaces). The procurement prices of pigs for slaughter were by 12.5% higher than in marketplaces – by 10.3% compared with the data from December of the previous year. In the 1st half of 2009, the factors determining the profitability of pig production were favourable to producers. The relation between the procurement prices of pigs and rye prices in marketplaces amounted to 11.1 (as opposed to 5.5 in the previous year). As a result of a reduction in the supply of piglets for further breeding caused by a deep drop in the livestock of sows, as well as a considerable increase in the profitability of pig production, there was a further growth in the prices of piglets in marketplaces. In June 2009, one piglet for breeding cost approx. PLN 187, i.e. by 88.5% more than the previous year. The prices of piglets went up by 28.0% compared with December last year.
http://www.stat.gov.pl/cps/rde/xbcr/gus/PUBL_as_poland_quarterly_statistics_2_2009.pdf
