Dear readers,
Some positive evolutions in the pig industry:
- The price table is turning green, after a long period.
- Husker researchers have created a new method for vaccinating against swine flu that is affordable and versatile, significantly improving protection against the disease .This advancement, which is part of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s broader commitment to innovating livestock vaccinations, provides direct advantages to the state’s swine industry, worth $5 billion and consisting of 3.6 million pigs .The newly developed vaccination strategy, detailed in a recent article published in Nature Partner Journals Vaccines, involves encapsulating DNA within tiny fat-like carriers known as lipid nanoparticles, which are then administered into the muscle tissue of pigs .A single injection releases DNA that prompts strong antibody responses within a span of seven to fourteen days.
- The Polish authorities plan to assist local pig breeders .This was recently declared by Agriculture Minister Stefan Krajewski .He mentioned that Poland is in discussions with the European Commission about relevant financial aid under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).The minister noted that around €115 million is set to be allocated .Additionally, specific assistance will be offered to pig producers .Krajewski mentioned that there will be a subsidy of about €115 for acquiring a breeding sow, while a bonus of roughly €346 will be provided for the initial farrowing.
Events calendar:
- Vietfood & Beverage is an annual trade fair for food and beverages that has been bringing together industry professionals from around the world in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The fair will take place on 3 days from Thursday, 06. August to Saturday, 08. August 2026
Everything Burns
Typically, African Swine Fever(ASF) outbrakes explode during this period in the Balkan area. Numerous new cases have been reported from Croatia, Romania, Serbia, some in high biosecurity status farms. Once again, the viral pressure is to high to be protected by the known measures.
Even more, in the last few days, ASF has been detected in deceased wild boars in Virolahti, Finland, which is around 20 kilometers away from the Russian border .Until now, Finland had not recorded any instances of this illness .Finnish officials have indicated that “there are suspicions” regarding the arrival of swine fever in Finland from Russia .The ASF cases that have been noted nearest to Finland have come from Estonia .In 2022, Helsinki cut off connections with Russian veterinary authorities.
According to recently published data, From January to June 2026, Spain brought in 1.83 million live pigs across different categories, representing a 35.6% reduction compared to the same timeframe the previous year.During the initial six months of 2026, Spain acquired 1,829,506 live pigs from international sources, a decrease from 2,839,861 heads acquired between January and June 2025 .
The Netherlands continued to be Spain’s leading source of live pigs .In the first half of the year, with 65.2% of all imports.Belgium exported 249,586 pigs to Spain, with shipments experiencing a significant decrease of 54.6% compared to the first half of 2025, making it one of the largest drops among the main suppliers .Other nations also saw substantial declines in their exports .Denmark delivered 59,935 pigs, down by 42.3% year over year .French shipments plummeted by 64.2% to 52,121 heads, while imports from Germany were reduced by 58.4% to 14,373 heads. Even with this strong reduction, due to the ASF, Spain has too much pork for the European market.
Things are not going well in the major pig producing countries.
Insolvency processes have commenced for Geestferkel GmbH, a prominent piglet manufacturer located in northern and eastern regions of Germany .This also encompasses the newly obtained sites in Prignitz .Geestferkel GmbH, a family-run enterprise in its 13th generation based in Wildeshausen, Lower Saxony, ranks among Germany’s largest piglet manufacturers and, alongside its production of piglets, manages its own breeding and fattening program for pigs, The group owns roughly 55.000 sow places with the current production running at approximately 28000 sows. Management perceives the insolvency as a “red flag for the entire German pig farming sector.” Should major producers be compelled to shut down, there is a likelihood that production will progressively move overseas – towards nations that typically have inferior standards concerning the environment and animal welfare. The managing director urges the grocery retail industry: “The practice of underpricing pigs, nurtured with deep commitment by farmers and breeders, must be put to a stop by abolishing weekly price listings and substituting them with annual price contracts, which are standard in the industry and in poultry .The grocery retail sector needs to take steps in this direction if it wishes to authentically market meat sourced from Germany.”
In the neighboring Netherlands JP Farms located in Rutten, Flevoland, was officially declared insolvent by the Central Netherlands District Court on Wednesday, July 28. The enterprise, which maintains around 20,000 spaces for pigs, fell victim to the prevailing low prices for piglets. In 2020, the farm was purchased by two brothers from Achterhoek along with a German financial backer .
As indicated by bankruptcy trustee Maarten Jansen, a piglet currently sells for approximately €26, while the production cost on the farm stands at about €55 for each animal. “The German investor lost trust and chose not to invest further,” Jansen explained .He also noted that the bankruptcy of another entity, German Ghost Star, contributed to this situation. “This is a hard reality to accept for both brothers.” Ultimately, ING also decided against extending their financing.The business houses over 2,500 sows, and some of their piglets are raised on the farm .However, as per the bankruptcy trustee, maintaining operations is extraordinarily challenging. “There is practically no demand for piglets or slaughter sows at the moment .Additionally, feed expenses are escalating to around €40,000 weekly.”
Heat domes are the new enemies of our sector of activity. Wildfire in Spain and France is causing disruption in the logistics, losses in the crop sector, but also reduces tourism in some of the most visited European countries, thus affecting tourism.
And, as if this is not enough, the sever drought is also effecting the level of the rivers, causing , for instance, the emergency closure of the nuclear powerplants of Hungary and Romania, placed on the Danube riverbed, while energy consumption of our industry is also at its peak. Everything burns…
