As reported by the Agrarheute portal, citing a forecast by ING analysts, there were 3,200 pig farmers in the Netherlands last year. In total, they raised 10.5 million pigs. Over the past five years, the pig herd has fallen by 12%. According to the bank's forecasts, this decline will continue in the next few years.
While the number of farms is decreasing, the number of pigs per farm is increasing. Last year, each farm had an average of 3,409 pigs.
– Last year, the situation for pig farmers in the Netherlands looked good. Profitability increased significantly in 2023 – assessed Jan Willem van den Berg, an ING analyst.
Despite this, many entrepreneurs face a choice: to expand their production or think about ending it? The lack of successors, insufficient development opportunities and consumer sentiment towards industrial farming cause many breeders to choose the latter option.
The mass exit from farming has been fuelled by the voluntary pig withdrawal programme, which is being driven by pressure to meet climate and environmental targets. The nationwide withdrawal programme shows that many pig farmers are ready to get out. Currently, 550 pig farmers have registered with the programme, and 121 have closed to date.
