According to the latest update from Eurostat, the total pig population in 2009 stood at just under 1.25 million. This compares with a little over 1.10 million the year before, an increase of 146,000 animals or 13.2 per cent.

Apparently contrary to this trend, however, is the figure for pig meat production in 2009, which stood at 78,300 tonnes, which is little more than half the volume of 156,006 tonnes reported two years previously (2007). No figure is available for 2008.