Bavaria pig population and farm numbers decline

The pig population in Bavaria has decreased by 1.3 percent compared to the previous year, according to final data from the Bavarian State Office for Statistics as of May 3, 2026. The total number of pigs stands at approximately 2,400,800 animals, a reduction of 32,200 head.

The number of pig farming businesses has also declined by 170, representing a 5.3 percent drop. This decline is most pronounced among small-scale operations with up to 99 pigs, which saw a 14.7 percent decrease, and medium-sized farms with 500 to 999 pigs, which fell by 9.1 percent.

Despite the overall reduction in numbers, the trend toward larger agricultural operations continues. The average number of pigs per farm has risen to 775, an increase of 31 from the previous year. Data shows that 31.3 percent of farms hold approximately 1.5 million pigs, while 31 percent of businesses manage more than 60 percent of the total population.

Specific livestock segments show mixed results: piglet populations increased by 1.0 percent, and young pigs up to 50 kg rose by 16.4 percent. Conversely, fattening pigs decreased by 8.7 percent, and breeding sows fell by 1.4 percent.