The average size of the national sow herd has increased for 2016 and now stands at 775 sows.

This is up from 753 in 2015, according to the National Pig Herd Performance Report for 2016, which was recently launched by Teagasc.

The report is a detailed analysis of the performance of herds that participated in the Teagasc e-Profit Monitoring (ePM) recording system in 2016.

The data included in the analysis is from a total of 111 herds representing over 86,000 sows or 57% of the national commercial sow herd.

Increased productivity

The number of pigs born alive per litter increased from 12.86 in 2015 up to 13.15 in 2016.

Productivity has increased across a number of parameters, according to the latest results, driving output at farm level.

The average litter per sow has increased according to the report and now stands at 2.38 litters per sow per year.

As a result of this, the output of pig meat per sow per year has also increased year on year, increasing by over 100kg per sow.

In 2015, the output of pig meat per sow stood at 2,058kg. However, this has increased to 2,179kg for 2016, a rise of 121kg.

This figure has risen from 1,889kg in 2011, which equates to a 290kg increase in seven years, a 15% rise.

Positive

Tom Hogan, chair of the IFA pigs committee, said of the results of the report: “It is a positive reflection on our pig farmers that in a year where margins were tight that they still managed to increase production.

“It is positive for the industry but we cannot forget how tight the last two years have been.

"There were casualties in the industry last year”, according to Hogan, who does not wish to see more farmers pushed out of the industry due to poor prices.

Looking at the results, he was enthusiastic in the way that the industry is going.

“The number of pigs born alive over the last number of years is up, and at the same time the level of antibiotics that are being used on Irish farms is down.

“You have to have a positive outlook for the industry. Farmers are not looking for much; we just want a price that will supply a decent wage and provide a decent living.”

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