The Pig population in December amounted to 76,900, an increase of 4.4 per cent or 3,217 pigs over the comparative period in 2006. 152 pig farms were recorded in this year’s survey.

When compared to the previous year, increases of 15.4 per cent and 3.1 per cent were recorded in the ‘fattening pigs’ and ‘young pigs’ categories respectively. On the other hand, piglets and breeding stock registered declines of 4.5 per cent and 7.9 per cent respectively.

On a regional level, 71,831 pigs (93.4 per cent), were found in Malta, of which 36.1 per cent were found in the Western District. The remaining 5,069 pigs (6.6 per cent) were found in Gozo and Comino. Over the comparative period, an increase of 4.0 per cent and 9.4 per cent in the total number of pigs in Malta and Gozo and Comino was registered.

Minor variations in the size structure of holdings were registered when compared to 2006. Whereas, in 2006, 27.3 per cent of all holdings had between 200 and 399 heads, the share of medium-sized pig holdings fell to 23.7 per cent in 2007. On the other hand, the share of small pig holdings (1 to 199 pigs) registered a marginal decline from 33.7 per cent in 2006 to 32.9 per cent in 2007. In addition, large pig holdings (>= 400 pigs) increased by 10.0 per cent over the comparative period.

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