Wave of pigs in Danish slaughterhouses

The Danish pig population at the beginning of the fourth quarter this year is significantly larger than a year earlier. Although the number of sows is stable, the most recent animal count from the Danish Bureau of Statistics shows a drastic increase in the number of piglets and fattening pigs. More piglets are remaining in the country; the number of pig slaughters is rising extremely quickly. In the count on October 1, 2025, Denmark had 934,000 sows. A minimal difference from the 933,000 sows counted in October 2024. Compared to two years ago, there are 13,000 more sows on Danish farms. The number of piglets per sow increased by 68,000 to 2.49 million, a rise of 2.8%, indicating that productivity in Danish sow farming still seems to be increasing. More piglets and fattening pigs counted The number of piglets and fattening pigs in Danish pig farms has increased significantly year-on-year. Last year, on October 1, there were 5.40 million weaned piglets counted; there are now 5.69 million. An increase of 0.29 million, or 5.4%. The number of fattening pigs rose even more sharply: from 2.28 million in October 2024 to 2.54 million now. An increase of 11.4%. Slaughters shoot up Meanwhile, the supply of fattening pigs in Denmark also seems to be rising very quickly. In the first months of the year, the number of pig slaughters compared to 2024 was still a fraction lower on average. In the recent period, the supply of slaughter pigs in Denmark, compared to last year, is very ample. According to slaughter figures published by the Danish union for pig farmers, 3.79 million pigs were processed in the third quarter of this year. Last year, that number in the same period was still 3.40 million. Thus, the number of slaughters has increased by no less than 390,000, or 11.5%. Especially the number of slaughters in the past weeks is impressive. Danish slaughterhouses processed 1.36 million pigs in September compared to 1.10 million last year. An increase of 260,000 pigs (+23.6%). Export of piglets has declined Part of the higher domestic supply can be explained by the declining number of piglets being exported. In the period up to and including September, 12.36 million animals were sold abroad, mainly to Germany and Poland. Last year, that number in the same period was still 12.54 million. The decline amounts to approximately 180,000 animals, or about 1.4%. Especially in the months of August and September, fewer piglets were exported across the border. With the above development, it can be stated that Danish Crown's policy to process more pigs domestically is already beginning to bear fruit. This spring, the company announced a substantial package of measures to make it more attractive for pig farmers to raise piglets for domestic slaughter rather than exporting them, thereby increasing the occupancy rate in their own factories.