Statistics published yesterday by the National Statistics Office show that in December 2003 there were 73,067 pigs in 160 holdings.

There was a fall of 5,236 pigs (6.7 per cent) from the 78,303 pigs that were recorded a year earlier.

The pig population may be grouped into three main categories: young pigs which totalled 39,885 (of which 18,351 were piglets with a live weight of less than 20 kilogrammes); fattening pigs totalling 24,996 (which were divided into 18,297 pigs with a live weight between 50-80 kilogrammes and 6,699 pigs weighing more than 80 kilogrammes) and breeding pigs – 7,749 sows and 437 boars.

When compared to December 2002, there was a fall of 5,256 (17.4 per cent) in the fattening pigs category. The number of piglets dropped by 2.9 per cent whereas the number of young pigs and pigs used for breeding purposes increased by 0.8 per cent and five per cent respectively.

On a regional level, 68,022 of all pigs (93.1 per cent) are found in Malta. The dominant district, with 24,474 pigs, is the western area. The remaining 5,045 pigs are in Gozo and Comino.

Pig stocks in Malta declined by 5,525 (7.5 per cent) from 73,547 in December 2002 to 68,022 in December 2003. This was mainly due to a reduction in the number of fattening pigs (5,768 or 20 per cent) from 28,780 to 23,012 during the same period.

While piglet stocks decreased marginally by 1.9 per cent, the stock of young pigs and breeding stock increased by 1.5 per cent and 3.7 per cent respectively.

Although pig stocks in Malta declined compared to 2002, pig stocks in Gozo and Comino increased by 289 from 4,756 pigs a year earlier. The increase in stock was a result of a substantial increase in the number of fattening pigs and breeding stock, which increased by 34.8 per cent and 21.5 per cent respectively.

On the other hand, piglets and young pigs decreased by 16.2 per cent and 9.4 per cent respectively.