These figures are provisional and have been produced to meet the requirement to supply estimates of UK pig numbers to the Statistical Office of the European Community. Whilst they give an indication of trends, they are subject to amendment as later survey responses come in. Revised and final estimates of pig numbers will be published on the 5th October 2006 and the 18th January 2007.

• England accounts for 82 per cent of pigs in the UK with UK level changes driven mainly by changes in England.
• These estimates suggest that the pig breeding herd is stabilising after a period of decline; it has increased by 1 per cent since June 2005, recovering from the estimated downturn experienced in December 2005.
• Pigmeat production figures have been relatively stable since 2003, with an increase of 1.9 per cent in pigs for fattening between June 2005 and June 2006.