Description of pig production in Latvia and in the region of Zemgale | Cūkkopības nozares raksturojums Latvijā un Zemgalē
2013
Degola, L., Latvia Univ. of Agriculture, Jelgava (Latvia). Faculty of Agriculture | Lejniece, D., Cūku ciltsdarba centrs, Riga (Latvia)
Latvian pig farmers are able of producing 77% of the consumption of pork. Latvian export in 2011 increased by 35%, while import by only 15%, export growing faster than import. In Zemgale farms there are concentrated 37 – 39% of the total number of all Latvian pigs and 19.8% of the total Latvian agricultural land, suggesting intensive pig production Zemgale. In 20 regions of Zemgale there are very different numbers of pigs and farms. Around 19 – 21% of the total number of pigs is concentrated in the regions of Auce, Bauska, Dobele. The distribution of the number of pigs in a herd in January 2012 shows that 1 – 9 pigs were on 93 farms, 46% of the total number of farms and 78 farms had 10 – 50 pigs (38%). More than 72% of the total number of pigs in Zemgale is concentrated on the farms with more than 5000 pigs. Pedigree work is coordinated by two breeders’ organizations „Pig Breeding Centre” and „Agrosels”. The organizations implement the pig breeding programs. In 2011, 13 farms acquired the status of breeding farms. The pork meat quality is of S – E classes, produced with local genetics, which is enhanced by European and Scandinavian genetics. The pork production is based on the pig breeds – the Yorkshire, Landrace, Pietrain, Durock where the feedback was applied, three-breed and four-breed crossing. There are only two pig breeding farms in Zemgale. The highest percentage is Landrace pigs 43.2%, followed by Yorkshire breed pigs. On December 31, 2012 Landrace pigs on the breeding farms constituted 58% of all Latvian breed sows. The sales prices are fluctuating in the domestic market; this depends on the price of other European countries, the exports to Poland and to other countries. The pig production industry is still in a difficult situation due to the increase of grain prices. The Latvian farmers receive considerably lower EU direct payments. The development of pig production sector is indirectly influenced by consumers and economic conditions. Latvian producers are able to produce high quality pork according to consumers’ requirements.
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