England lost a fifth of the breeding herd

At the end of 2022, the breeding herd of females consisted of 237,000 HEAD compared to 295,000 head in December 2021, which is 20% less and 25% less than the 317,000 head registered in 2020. December breeding stock figures follow from June 2022 census data showing an 18% year-on-year decline.

The total hog herd in England decreased by 9.2% year-on-year to 3.7 million including a 7.9% reduction in fattening hogs. However, the figure for December 2022 represents a return to the typical hog population seen from 2017 to 2020 after peaking in December 2021.

Although broader data for the UK have yet to be released, the impact of the decline in England on UK hog production is likely to be significant, especially when the impact of lower slaughter weight is added, which will be felt over the next few months.

In its Pork Outlook for 2023, the AHDB forecasts a 15% drop in UK pork production in 2023 due to a decline in breeding stock, although the organization expects a gradual recovery in breeding stock throughout 2023 and beyond.

NPA Chief Executive Lizzie Wilson said: “These numbers are shocking, confirming the scale and pace of the cuts we have not seen before in this industry. But, at the same time, they are not surprising, given the depth and duration of the crisis. which swept the sector, and, unfortunately, for many manufacturers there was simply no way out"

“These numbers should send a signal to the rest of the supply chain about what happens when one part of it doesn't get a fair price for an extended period. We are now facing a shortage of pigs in the UK, with many of Europe's leading producing countries in the same boat as us, and the situation will only get worse in the coming months.

“We continue to call on the government to review the pork supply chain so that we can implement reforms that will ensure a more equitable and sustainable supply chain for all.”