• Agro Gobarto CEO Jacek Jagiełłowicz stressed that Poland should improve the efficiency and quality of pig production instead of pursuing growth in the pig population at any cost
  • Around 40 percent of pigs slaughtered in Poland are said to come from Danish feeder pigs, while lower reproductive efficiency (22–23 piglets/sow) increases dependence on imports
  • Barriers for the sector included ASF, export restrictions, import pressure, difficulties in building new livestock facilities, and rising EU animal welfare requirements
  • We will discuss challenges facing the pig industry on 18 November during the National Challenges in Agriculture. Register for the event today!

Jacek Jagiełłowicz began his presentation by sharing key data on European pig production. The expert noted that in recent years we have seen no major changes in many areas, including livestock numbers, the number of pigs slaughtered, and trade. Nevertheless, the situation may change in the coming years, for example through a decline in livestock numbers.

The expert also presented data on the pig population in Poland. In his view, it would be a mistake to focus solely on increasing the number of animals:

- The more important question is how to improve production efficiency and quality, and how to change the structure of the herd. We should not pursue a particular herd size at any cost, without taking farms’ economic results into account. Around 19–20 million pigs are slaughtered in Poland annually. I believe that with sufficiently high productivity and well-organized domestic production, Poland could be much more self-sufficient in pork even with its current herd size,” said the president of Agro Gobarto.

Almost half of domestic production comes from Danish feeder pigs

The expert also drew attention to reproductive efficiency. Although we do not have precise data on this, the estimated productivity of a sow in Poland is around 22-23 piglets per year. That is a dozen or so fewer animals than in Denmark. If we caught up with the Danes in this respect, it would turn out that even without an increase in the number of sows, it would be possible to significantly reduce imports of feeder pigs.

Jagiełłowicz pointed out that of the approximately 20 million fattening pigs slaughtered in Poland, around 40 percent come from feeder pigs imported from Denmark. If the scale of imports remains unchanged, we will have another record this year.

Farm fragmentation and support measures

The President of Agro Gobarto also drew attention to the persistently unfavorable structure of production on domestic farms. According to the data he cited, herds numbering more than 1000 animals currently account for just 5,5 percent of all farms, while producing nearly 60 percent of all domestic pork. In his view, the forms of support proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture should be directed primarily to producers who guarantee market supplies of large batches of animals. The aim is not to drive small producers out of the market, but to ensure that state support consolidates an economically sound production model.

Challenges and opportunities

Jagiełłowicz noted that a great many factors affect the situation in the industry. These include ASF outbreaks in Europe, export restrictions, changes in demand in the Chinese market, and price pressure associated with imports. Changes in global trade may deepen the crisis, but they may also create an opportunity to restructure domestic production. If livestock numbers in Europe decline and some producers scale back their operations, Poland should use this time to improve its competitiveness.

It is worth monitoring the situation in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark, where production conditions and animal welfare requirements are changing. New regulations may entail additional costs and, consequently, lead to a reduction in the number of animals kept. The extent of these changes and the forecasts cited in the presentation require verification.

The most important threats

The expert also pointed to the main threats and constraints facing domestic pig production. One of these is the restriction of opportunities to build new livestock facilities. If administrative barriers and a lack of social acceptance persist, the sector’s development may become even more difficult.

Another problem is infectious diseases, including ASF, and the associated export restrictions, biosecurity costs, and financial losses. Despite progress in combating the disease, the threat has not disappeared.

The dependence on imported weaners must not be overlooked either. Many farmers, slaughterhouses, and transport companies rely on these deliveries for their operations. A sudden restriction on imports could therefore affect the entire supply chain. At the same time, excessive dependence on foreign suppliers weakens domestic self-sufficiency.

The industry should therefore focus on actions it can genuinely influence. Cooperation, a united voice for producers, and practical solutions to improve farm efficiency are needed.

According to Jagiełłowicz, one of the industry's priorities should be improving production results, including fertility, feed utilization, and overall efficiency. Reliable comparative data are essential to enable producers to assess their farms' results against those of others.

It is also important to protect the domestic market and raise consumer awareness. Choosing Polish products can support domestic producers, but should go hand in hand with competitive prices, high quality, and clear information about the origin of the meat.