Irish Pig Census 2003
By Pat Tuite, Chief Pig Adviser, Teagasc, Drogheda - One profitable year out of the last five has not been enough to halt the decline in the Irish sow herd. The deeply depressed prices of 1998 & 1999 did not cause an immediate contraction in sow numbers. But the continuing poor returns, with the exception of 2001, have begun to take their toll. This has been most obvious since mid-2002.
12 May 2003
5 minute read
Every two years Teagasc pig advisers do an accurate survey of all commercial pig units in the country. This monitors changes in herd structure and distribution and provides reliable data for planning future strategy.
Table 1 summarises the structure of Irish pig production in January 2003. The main changes and trends which have taken place since January 2001 are:
- Sow numbers have declined by 5,740 (-3.5%) to about 160,000.
- The number of commercial pig units has declined by a further 8% to 510 farms.
- The decline in pig units was almost exclusively confined to sow units with less than 300 sows, with a decline of 48 units.
- Only 2.4% of all sows are now found in units of less than 100 sows.
- The average herd size has increased from 355 sows to 383 sows. Integrated breeding and finishing units have an average herd size of 387 sows, while specialised breeding units average 359 sows.
- The percentage of sows in integrated units has increased by 1.4% to 86%. A significant number of producers own or lease breeding units and finishing units on separate sites. These are classified as specialised breeding or finishing units.
- There has been an increase of over 20,000 finishing places (+15%) in specialised finishing units since 2001.
The main features of the current pig herd structure are:
- The total sow herd of 160,360 is almost 5,000 sows less than the 165,100 sows estimated by the CSO for December 1st 2002.
- The current sow numbers are capable of producing approx. 3.43 million pigs per year or 66,000 pigs per week.
- Approx. 150 pig units (i.e. > 275 integrated sow places, >650 breeding sow places or > 2,000 finishing places) may be liable for an IPPC licence under proposed thresholds. Where practical, herd sizes will be reduced to avoid the necessity to obtain an IPPC licence. It is estimated that about 65% of current sows will eventually have an IPPC licence.
- There are still 33 units with more than 1,000 sows each carrying a total of 51,915 sows (32% of total sows). There are now 104 units with 500 sows+, carrying 97,855 sows (61% of total sows).
- The increase in specialised finishing places reflects the growth in contract finishing. This facilitates a higher slaughter weight, which has increased by over 3kg since 2000.
Table 2 shows the distribution of pig farms by county. The main features of the current spread are:
- 53% of all sows and finishing pigs are found in just four counties (viz. Cork, Cavan, Tipperary & Longford). Pig numbers have fallen in each of these counties since 2001, with the exception of Longford.
- Three quarters of all pigs are reared in ten counties.
- Eight counties have now only 31 pig units between them.
- Eight counties have shown an increase in sow numbers since 2001.
Table 1: Summary of Commercial Pig Units in Ireland January 2003
A
Integrated Breeding & Finishing Units (86% Sows)
Unit Size (Sows)
No. Units
No. Sows in Category
<100
100 - 199
200 - 299
300 - 499
500 - 999
1,000+
49
79
86
57
58
29
3,012
11,085
20,322
21,385
37,465
45,196
Totals
358
138,465
B
Specialised Breeding Units
Unit Size (Sows)
No. Units
No. Sows in Category
100 - 199
200 - 299
300 - 499
500 - 999
1,000+
14
18
7
5
13
4
805
2,410
1,740
1,745
8,475
6,720
Totals
61
21,895
C
Specialised Finishing Units
Unit Size (Finishing Places)
No. Units
No. Finishing Places in Category
<500
500 - 999
1,000 - 1,999
2,000 - 4,999
5,000+
18
25
25
14
9
5,700
16,020
32,800
37,850
59,600
Totals
91
151,970
Grand Totals: 419 Sow Units with 160,360 sows
449 Finishing Units with 812,930 places
510 Commercial Pig Farms
Table 2: Summary of Commercial Pig Units by County January 2003
Breeding Units
Farms Producing Finishing Pigs
Total No.
County
No. Units
No. Sows
No. Units
No. Pig Places
Pig Units
Cork
Cavan
Tipperary
Longford
80
57
48
13
30,644
28,650
17,875
7,825+
77
65
44
13
153,380
161,525
80,120
36,150
95
67
53
15
Waterford
Westmeath
Offaly
Kilkenny
Laois
Wexford
16
8
12
17
11
20
6,580-
6,370+
6,140-
5,775-
5,160+
5,105-
21
13
12
19
9
24
41,900
37,975
20,950
31,250
25,370
25,195
21
15
16
21
13
28
Limerick
Kerry
Meath
Kildare
Donegal
Monaghan
Mayo
Leitrim
11
18
13
8
24
13
12
8
5,030-
4,655+
4,430+
3,785+
3,730-
3,050-
3,020+
2,830-
13
17
15
14
22
17
14
7
23,900
21,820
20,020
11,290
19,800
17,900
14,120
13,575
14
19
16
15
25
17
16
8
Carlow
Roscommon
Wicklow
Clare
Galway
Louth
Sligo
Dublin
8
6
4
5
5
3
2,050-
2,045+
1,375-
1,340-
710-
2,185
9
5
5
5
6
4
13,470
9,400
15,150
6,000
3,670
9,000
9
6
5
5
7
4
Totals
420
160,360
450
812,930
510
