29 January 2024

2 minute learn

In 2022, Spain continued to be the foremost European Union (EU) pork producer and exporter. Nonetheless, trade sources forecast declines within the swine herd, numbers of sows, and pig crop in Spain in 2023 and 2024 after hitting report ranges in 2022, in response to a latest US Division of Agriculture (USDA) World Agricultural Data Community (GAIN) report.

The discount in sows and pig crop in 2023 is partially compensated by elevated EU imports of piglets, primarily from the Netherlands and Portugal, which can proceed in 2024. These EU pig imports alleviated the discount in home slaughters in 2022 to satisfy the slaughterhouses’ demand.

In 2022, decrease pig manufacturing in Spain was additionally exacerbated by a number of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) outbreaks in Catalonia and Aragon however was compensated by main intra-EU pig imports. Present PRRS conditions are below management in response to Spanish sources. 

The report excessive enter value skilled in 2022 within the swine sector resulted in a 2% discount of complete slaughter to 56,657 million heads and 5 million MT of pork. 

Pork costs have since skyrocketed.

In accordance with the sector, the principle driver to this discount aside from the anticipated decline in pork exports to China and different non-EU markets is the Spanish Royal Decree 159/2023 on Animal Welfare, which consists of stricter necessities for sows and pigs than the EU regulation. The Decree, whose aim is to cut back tail docking of pigs, consists of new values for the utmost density of animals in farms and new circumstances concerning feeding, water, feeders, environmental circumstances, and the provision of manipulable materials for the animals. Current farms can have two years to make the diversifications. As a end result, Spain must restructure the swine sector for the subsequent two years to readjust pork manufacturing.

Resulting from these changes, sow herd and slaughter could proceed to say no in 2023 and 2024, with increased carcass weights wanted to succeed in the extent of pork manufacturing barely under 5 million tons. 

In 2022, in response to official knowledge, sow slaughter elevated to 900,000 animals. The sector expects one other improve in 2023 as a result of discount in sow herds as a result of Animal Welfare laws. Fertility charges could stay fixed regardless of unfavourable climate circumstances. In Spanish indoor swine manufacturing (which accounts for round 92 p.c of the entire herd), fertility charges are 27-28 piglets per sow, whereas within the Iberian pig manufacturing which might be raised outdoor, the charges lower to 10 piglets per sow. 

Fertility charges for Iberico manufacturing have been strongly affected by the extreme drought in 2023. 

Moreover, as a result of measures adopted to cut back antibiotic ranges in swine in accordance to the ‘One Well being’ strategy and EU laws, mortality charges and losses additionally elevated in 2022 and should proceed in 2023 and 2024.