The June census saw an overall increase in pig numbers in England, but the breeding herd, including boars, fell back by a further 1% to 325,900 head, the smallest on record, in the year to June.
The number of sows in pig was down fractionally to 183,000 head, but there was a 5.3% fall in gilts in pig to 29,600 head and an 8.3% drop in ‘other sows’, dry sows or those kept for further breeding, to 38,600 head. This meant the female breeding (not including gilts not yet in pig) declined by 2.2% to 251,400 head.
The number of gilts intended for first time breeding was up 4.3% to 66,400 head, suggesting the possibility of a light future recovery in breeding pig numbers. Male breeding pigs numbers were down 3.6% to just over 8,000.
Between June 2021 and June 2022, the height of the pig crisis, the breeding herd (including boars) declined by 18% from 402,600 head to 328,600. There was a slight recovery in June 2023, before numbers slipped back again this year.