Increases for Northern Ireland Pig Herd in 2015
NORTHERN IRELAND, UK - As at the 1 December 2015, the total pig herd in Northern Ireland increased by 7 per cent on the previous year, to 533,400 head, according to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland.
7 March 2016
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Nevertheless, despite an increase year on year, December’s figure is 6 per cent lower than that reported in June, although this is the normal pattern for these two surveys.
The total female breeding herd recorded an increase of 6 per cent on the year 43,400 head.
Furthermore, the other pig category, which includes piglets, weaners, finishers and cull sows, increased by 8 per cent on the year to 484,200 head.
Despite an overall increase to the breeding herd in December, the number of maiden gilts recorded actually decreased by 10 per cent on the year to 5,200 head.
This could suggest that the NI pig herd might start to contract but these figures can be unreliable, so it is probably too early to tell for certain.
