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For more information on this release:
E-mail: agri@cso.ie Paul Deane (+353) 21 453 5560 Kevin Sheppard (+353) 21 453 5517 Don Deane (+353) 21 453 5489
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 1393-709X
CSO statistical release, , 11am

Pig Survey

June 2019

 Breeding PigsOther PigsTotal Pigs
       '000
June 2018148.71,473.31,621.9
June 2019143.31,472.71,616.0
% change-3.60.0-0.4

Pig numbers down 0.4%

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The total number of pigs in Ireland in June 2019 was estimated at 1,616,000 with 1,472,700 non-breeding pigs and 143,300 breeding pigs. See Table 1.

A comparison of the June 2018 and June 2019 figures (see Table 1) show that in the breeding category the number of: 

  • Gilts not yet served increased by 20.6%.
  • Other Sows for breeding decreased by 10.0%.
Table 1 Number of Pigs
DescriptionJune 2017June 2018June 2019   Change 2018 - 2019
         ' 000         ' 000%
Total Pigs1,556.91,621.91,616.0-6.0-0.4
      
   Breeding Pigs144.7148.7143.3-5.3-3.6
      Gilts in Pig19.520.118.6-1.6-7.8
      Sows in Pig78.782.478.7-3.6-4.4
      Other Sows for breeding30.130.027.0-3.0-10.0
      Gilts not yet served115.014.918.03.120.6
      Boars1.31.31.1-0.2-14.8
      
   Other Pigs1,412.21,473.31,472.7-0.60.0
      Pigs 80kg and over291.4295.3284.0-11.3-3.8
      Pigs 50kg and under 80kg 289.6314.0299.2-14.8-4.7
      Pigs 20kg and under 50kg 421.1412.1437.525.46.2
      Less than 20kg410.1451.9452.00.10.0
1 Gilts of at least 50kg liveweight intended for breeding but not yet served.

Background Notes

Introduction   This release presents estimates of numbers of pigs in June 2019 at State level. The estimates are based on returns from the June 2019 Pig Survey which collects data on pig numbers held by specialised producers. The data is collected in accordance with Regulation (EC) No.1165/2008.

Coverage   Specialised pig farms, totalling 289 specialised pig farms were included in the survey for June 2019, accounting for 88% of the estimated total pig population.

Results   The results for June 2019 were calculated by comparing the returns from the same pig farms in the June 2018 Pig Survey and the June 2019 Pig Survey and applying the resulting trend to the June 2018 pig figures.

As figures in the text and tables have been rounded to the nearest 100 units there may be slight discrepancies between the sum (or difference) of the constituent items and the totals shown.

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