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For more information on this release:
E-mail: pigsurvey@cso.ie Sophie Emerson (+353) 21 453 5453 David O'Leary (+353) 21 453 5517 Sheila Boland (+353) 21 453 5221
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 2020

 Breeding PigsOther PigsTotal Pigs
       '000
June 2019143.31,472.71,616.0
June 2020143.71,488.41,632.1
% change+0.3+1.1+1.0

Pig numbers up 1.0%

Figure 1 Non-breeding pigs
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The total number of pigs in Ireland in June 2020 was estimated at 1,632,100, an increase of 1% compared to June 2019, with 1,488,400 non-breeding pigs and 143,700 breeding pigs. See Table 1.

A comparison of the June 2019 and June 2020 figures (see Table 1) show that in the breeding category the number of: 

  • Other Sows for breeding increased by 13.6%.
  • Gilts not yet served decreased by 13.0%.
Table 1 Number of Pigs
DescriptionJune 2018June 2019June 2020   Change 2019 - 2020
         ' 000         ' 000%
Total Pigs1,621.91,616.01,632.116.11.0
     
   Breeding Pigs148.7143.3143.70.40.3
      Gilts in Pig20.118.619.91.37.0
      Sows in Pig82.478.776.5-2.3-2.9
      Other Sows for breeding30.027.030.63.713.6
      Gilts not yet served114.918.015.7-2.3-13.0
      Boars1.31.11.10.0-0.3
     
   Other Pigs1,473.31,472.71,488.415.71.1
      Pigs 80kg and over295.3284.0316.732.711.5
      Pigs 50kg and under 80kg 314.0299.2304.65.41.8
      Pigs 20kg and under 50kg 412.1437.5417.7-19.8-4.5
      Less than 20kg451.9452.0449.4-2.6-0.6
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 2020 at State level. The estimates are based on returns from the June 2020 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 287 specialised pig farms were included in the survey for June 2020, accounting for 87% of the estimated total pig population.

Results    In cases where a pig farm did not make a June 2020 return, an estimate was created by taking that farm's 2019 return and applying the trend observed between the 2019 and 2020 collected data for each category of pigs.  

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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