Austrian pig production in decline

Austrian pig production is expected to be 2% lower this year compared with 2007, with numbers estimated to fall further still in the first half of 2009, according to the latest estimates from the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture.

The figures, based on a June livestock count, show that domestic production in the third quarter of 2008 is expected to be 2.3% lower than in the same quarter of 2007 and production for the fourth quarter is expected to be 4.1% lower than 2007.

The nation is expected to rear 4,783 million pigs this year, a 2% year-on-year decrease. In the first quarter of 2009, a 4.6% decrease over the same period of 2008 is expected, whilst a year-on-year decrease of 2.3% is expected for the second quarter.

Producer prices for pigs had fallen 9.2% in 2007 to an average slaughterweight of €1.33/kg, but in the first half of 2008, prices picked up to some extent, rising to €1.37/kg in the first quarter and reaching €1.54/kg in the second quarter. Consumer prices for pigmeat increased in the first half of 2008 by between 2.1% and 3.4% depending on cuts.

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