Based on updated data from Statistics Austria, the total number of pigs fell by 55,400 head compared to the previous year. The decline was recorded across almost all production categories.
The number of piglets and young pigs decreased by 1.6%, reaching 1.22 million head. The breeding pig population dropped by 2.9% to 198,700 head. The number of fattening pigs also declined by 2.7%, totaling 1.06 million head.
Within pig categories, the number of piglets fell by 2.3% to 600,600, while young pigs declined by 1% to 621,300. Among fattening pigs, the number of animals weighing 50–80 kg decreased by 2.2% to 501,300, and those weighing 80–110 kg dropped by 4.8% to 420,600. At the same time, the number of pigs weighing over 110 kg increased by 2.4% to 136,600 head.
The number of replacement gilts declined by 0.1% (to 40,900), while the number of older sows decreased by 3.4% (to 154,900). The total number of pregnant sows stood at 136,600, which is 2.2% lower than a year earlier.
Alongside the decline in livestock numbers, the number of farms also fell. As of the reporting date, there were 4.7% fewer pig farms, totaling 15,800. At the same time, the average number of pigs per farm increased slightly from 153 to 157, indicating gradual production concentration.
The largest share of pig production remains concentrated in three federal states — Upper Austria, Lower Austria, and Styria — which together account for 94.1% of the country’s total pig population.
PigUA.info based on materials from euromeatnews.com