Fewer Breeding Pigs, More Finishers in UK's 2013 Livestock Census
UK - The latest census of pig numbers in the United Kingdom in December 2013 reveals the breeding herd down by two per cent from 12 months previously and there are 10 per cent fewer gilts for future breeding. There are five per cent more fattening pigs.
20 March 2014
4 minute read
By: This report updates the previous one by including the figures for Scotland.
Pig Numbers
The total number of pigs in the UK increased by 4.0 per cent during 2013 to nearly 4.4 million, which goes against the fall in the UK’s pig population since 2009.
The total number of breeding pigs in the UK decreased by 2.4 per cent to 497,000 animals by December 2013.
The total number of fattening pigs in the UK increased by 4.8 per cent (or 155,000 animals) to 3.9 million pigs between December 2012 and December 2013.
Scotland has revised its survey imputation methodology, leading to minor revisions to the estimates of UK pig numbers from 2007 onwards.
| Table 1. Pigs on commercial agricultural holdings in the UK on 1 December (thousands) | ||||||
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | % change 2013 / 2012 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total pigs | 4,416 | 4,388 | 4,328 | 4,216 | 4,383 | +4.0 |
| - Breeding pigs | 495 | 508 | 499 | 509 | 497 | -2.4 |
| - Female breeding herd | 417 | 423 | 409 | 400 | 398 | -0.6 |
| - Sows in pig | 291 | 277 | 265 | 269 | 273 | +1.5 |
| - Gilts in pig | 57 | 68 | 66 | 68 | 60 | -11.3 |
| - Other sows | 69 | 79 | 78 | 63 | 64 | +1.7 |
| - Other breeding pigs | 78 | 85 | 90 | 109 | 99 | -8.9 |
| - Boars being used for service | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | -2.9 |
| - Gilts intended for first-time breeding | 62 | 69 | 75 | 93 | 84 | -9.8 |
| - Fattening pigs (incl. barren sows) | 3,921 | 3,880 | 3,828 | 3,707 | 3,886 | +4.8 |
In December 2013 compared to a year earlier, there are noteworthy double-digit reductions in two categories, namely pregnant gilts and gilts intended for first-time breeding, which are down by 11 and 10 per cent, respectively. These changes point to further and significant reductions in the UK breeding herd ahead.
Cattle Numbers
According to the latest revision, the total number of cattle and calves in the UK fell by 0.7 per cent to 9.7 million between December 2012 and December 2013.
The UK's dairy herd remained static at 1.8 million for another year and the beef herd continues to decrease, falling by 3.0 per cent to under 1.6 million.
Scotland has now started to use the Cattle Tracing System (CTS) as the source for cattle data in December 2013, and revised its cattle time series back to 2007.
| Table 2. Cattle and calves on agricultural holdings in the UK on 1 December (thousands) | ||||||
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | % change 2013 / 2012 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total cattle & calves | 9,945 | 9,924 | 9,692 | 9,749 | 9,682 | -0.7 |
| All female cattle | 7,167 | 7,188 | 7,054 | 7,062 | 7,013 | -0.7 |
| Aged 2 years or more | 4,292 | 4,302 | 4,164 | 4,128 | 4,126 | -0.1 |
| Total breeding herd | 3,465 | 3,481 | 3,412 | 3,388 | 3,371 | -0.5 |
| - Beef herd | 1,616 | 1,649 | 1,630 | 1,603 | 1,554 | -3.0 |
| - Dairy herd | 1,849 | 1,832 | 1,783 | 1,786 | 1,817 | +1.7 |
| Other female cattle | 827 | 821 | 752 | 740 | 755 | +2.1 |
| - Beef | 408 | 398 | 335 | 346 | 353 | +2.0 |
| - Dairy | 418 | 423 | 417 | 394 | 402 | +2.1 |
| Aged 1 to 2 years | 1,391 | 1,364 | 1,352 | 1,394 | 1,396 | +0.1 |
| - Beef | 907 | 854 | 835 | 861 | 852 | -1.1 |
| - Dairy | 484 | 510 | 516 | 532 | 543 | +2.1 |
| Less than 1 year | 1,485 | 1,521 | 1,538 | 1,540 | 1,491 | -3.1 |
| All male cattle | 2,777 | 2,736 | 2,638 | 2,687 | 2,669 | -0.7 |
| Aged 2 years or more | 370 | 348 | 303 | 305 | 342 | +12.2 |
| Aged 1 to 2 years | 1,052 | 1,021 | 985 | 1,001 | 1,015 | +1.4 |
| Less than 1 year | 1,356 | 1,367 | 1,350 | 1,381 | 1,312 | -5.0 |
| Figures sourced from the Cattle Tracing System (CTS). Data include returns from all holdings with cattle so are not subject to survey | ||||||
