This is a surprising (provisional) figure bearing in mind the good prices being received over the survey period.

However it may partly be accounted for by producers trimming breeding pigs in order to achieve higher productivity.

Despite the headline figure of a -0.4 per cent fall, the forthcoming December 2010 census could still show an increase in the national herd, because the gilts-intended-for-breeding category is good indicator of confidence and in the June 2010 survey it is up a bullish 13.6 per cent.

Gilts-in-pig are up a remarkable 27.5 per cent.

However, recent increases in feed prices mean the confidence felt in the first six months of this year may turn out to have been misplaced.