France sees a decline in the number of pig farms

Agricultural census data show that in 2020 there were 8,500 farms in France with more than 20 sows or 100 pigs, compared to 11,500 in 2010 and 16,800 in 2000 (a decrease of 50.6% over twenty years). However, this decrease was accompanied by an increase in the size of farms, so that over the same period, the decrease in the pig population was more limited (-19.0%, according to SSP data).

2022 and 2023 confirmed this decline: the French industry lost 24,000 sows in 2022 (-2.5%) and another 28,000 sows in 2023 (-3.2%), as the French breeding herd fell below 900,000 heads.