Germany’s pig industry: More welfare, shrinking finisher numbers

In the last 8 years, Germany’s pig slaughter figures have shown a downward trend. At its peak, around 60 million pigs were slaughtered; this year, however, only an estimated 44.5 million pigs will be slaughtered. Political challenges and stricter regulations have increased the pressure on the meat industry. After years of decline, pork production in Germany is likely to record a slight upturn for the first time. This development is particularly noteworthy as the number of slaughtered anim