England's pig population will fall by 10% in 2023

In December 2023, England's total pig population fell to 3.3 million, a loss of almost 400,000 pigs. The 10% year-on-year decline was driven by an 11% decline in the finishing pig population to just over 3 million.

The total number of English pigs fell by 1% compared to December 2022 to 300,800 HEAD. The female breeding herd, which accounts for 79% of breeding pigs, saw a slight increase of 0.7% to 239,000 in December 2023. This followed a 20% decline in 2022 and a 7% decline in 2021.

The increase was driven by a 3.5% increase in the number of sows in the pig industry to 175,500 and a 0.7% increase in the number of “other sows” (feeder or dry) to 38,400.

However, this offset a 16% decline in pig numbers compared to December 2022. The census also showed a 7% year-on-year decline in the number of gilts not yet raised to hog production, to 54,200.

The number of boars was 8.7% lower at just under 8,000.

December census totals are typically lower than June census totals, and this was the case again. The total pig population fell by a further 8.5% from England's June census figure of 3.6 million. The total breeding herd was down 8.6% and the female breeding herd was down 7.1% from June, with gilts in pigs being 21% lower and non-hog gilts being 15% lower.