Dutch pig population decreases significantly due to dropouts

The Dutch pig population has decreased significantly in 2025, as evidenced by the December count from the CBS. Notably, the sharp decline in the number of piglets in the Netherlands is particularly striking. In addition, it is noticeable that there were significantly more heavy pigs over 110 kilos being kept. The Dutch pig population has taken a considerable step back in 2025. The total pig population decreased by no less than 7.6% compared to the previous year, according to data from the CBS. The new count for 2025 shows that the effects of the decline are substantial. Besides the significant drop in pig prices, which generally reduces supply, it is clear that the LBV+ scheme is contributing to an additional decline. Since 2021, the pig population has not declined so sharply at any point. This structural decline is, by the way, very significant. Since 2021, the pig population has decreased by 15.4%. The number of piglets even fell more sharply in 2025. The decline amounted to as much as 11.3%. This cannot be entirely attributed to the LBV+ scheme. The piglet market faced a significant drop in exports and a price collapse in 2025, which likely slowed the production of piglets. In 2024, the number of piglets in the Netherlands decreased by 6%. Shift towards heavier pigs In addition, it is noticeable that relatively many heavy pigs are being kept in the Netherlands. The number of pigs over 110 kilos increased to 669,000 pigs. This is an increase of 17.4%. In contrast, the number of pigs between 80 and 110 kilos decreased by 4.6% to approximately 1,298,000 pigs. The shift is partly a result of the increase in slaughter weights in the Netherlands. The high piglet price, especially in the first half of 2025, led to a significant increase in slaughter weights. At the beginning of 2025, the slaughter weight even peaked at 104 kilos. It is likely that this category of pigs will decrease sharply. Meanwhile, the slaughter weight is clearly on the decline. The level is now structurally below 100 kilos.