Read this article in: Economy

Poland: Slight rebound in pig inventory

According to preliminary data, the pig population in December 2023 was 9769.7 thousand, an increase of 1.5% compared to the same period last year.

According to preliminary data, the pig inventory in December 2023 was 9769.7 thousand, an increase of 1.5% compared to the same period last year. A decrease in the pig inventory occurred in one group of pigs, pigs for slaughter (-2.1%).

Compared to the pig herd in June 2023, there were 333,000 more heads (+3.5%).

Compared to December 2022, the herd of sows for slaughter increased by 70.7 thousand head (+11.9%) to 663.3 thousand head, of which the inventory of gestating sows increased by 51.7 thousand head (+12.8%) to 456.5 thousand head. Compared to June 2023, the number of breeding sows increased by 72.7 thousand head (+12.3%), including gestating sows, up by 34.6 thousand head (+8.2%.)

Pig inventory in 2019-2023. Source: Central Statistical Office.

In the structure of the total swine herd, the share of each production and use group in December 2023 was:

Piglets weighing up to 20 kg: 20.5%,
Piglets weighing 20-50 kg: 29.0%,
Pigs weighing 50 kg and over, for slaughter: 43,5%,
Pigs weighing 50 kilograms or more, for breeding: 6,9%, (including: sows for total rearing 6.8%, including farrowing sows 4.7%)

Livestock structure in Poland, as of December 2023. Source: Central Statistical Office, Poland.

Compared with the pig population structure registered at the beginning of December 2022, in 2023 the share of piglets increased (by 0.9%), sows for rearing by 0.6%, pigs for breeding (by 0.6%), and gestating sows (0.5%). However, the share of pigs for slaughter decreased (by 1.6%), and the share of piglets was the same as in the corresponding period.

From January-November 2023 (according to preliminary data), imports of live pigs totaled 6851,700 head, 6.7% higher than in the same period a year ago, of which imports of piglets and growers increased by 9.0%. The average weight of one imported head during the period was 33.7 kilograms, compared to 35.5 kilograms in 2022.

The largest shares of the national pig population were held by the provinces of Wielkopolska (28.7%), Mazowieckie (13.6%), Kujawsko-Pomorskie (10.4%), Łódzkie (10.3%), and Pomorskie (8.3%). The provinces with the smallest shares were Lubuskie (1.0%), Podkarpackie (1.0%), and Małopolskie (1.3%).

January 31, 2024/ GUS/ Poland.
www.stat.gov.pl