Scottish Pig Herd Drops Again
SCOTLAND, UK - The English breeding herd is up 5.5 per cent and Northern Ireland is up 12 per cent — but the Scottish herd has fallen 10 per cent, a disappointing but not unexpected result.
23 September 2009
2 minute read
The June 2009 census shows continued shrinkage of the Scottish pig herd, as a result of high feed costs last year and perhaps increased nervousness about so much of Scotland's processing capacity being in the hands of one company, Vion.
But this time the census results hold a glimmer of hope that the industry has turned the corner and could be stabilising.
There is a 40 per cent increase in the number of gilts being kept for breeding. Admittedly this is comparing current intentions with a disastrously low figure in the June 2008 survey, but it does demonstrate increased confidence among some producers.
| Scottish Pig Herd, June 2009 | ||||
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | Percentage change 2008/2009 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breeding herd | ||||
| Sows in pig | 30,114 | 26,738 | 24,026 | -10.1% |
| Gilts in pig | 3,830 | 3,530 | 3,071 | -13.0% |
| Other sows | 6,231 | 6,671 | 6,162 | -7.6% |
| Total breeding herd | 40,175 | 36,939 | 33,259 | -10.0% |
| Barren sows for fattening | 762 | 709 | 495 | 30.2% |
| Gilts 50kg and over to be used for breeding | 6,136 | 3,883 | 5,478 | 41.1% |
| Boars | 1,352 | 1,278 | 1,198 | -6.3% |
| Total other pigs | 408,244 | 393,094 | 355,627 | -9.5% |
| Total pigs | 456,669 | 435,903 | 396,057 | -9.1% |
