date:Feb 28, 2014
ous year, indicating that breeding flock numbers are likely to ease further during 2014.
Meanwhile, the DARD survey also found the pig breeding herd stood at 40,500 in December 2013 and the total herd at 455,300, a one per cent increase on the previous year.
Pig numbers are subject to greater volatility than is found in most other livestock sectors, because the relatively short production period for pigs means that farmers can respond quickly to movements in farm-gate price or changes in the c