NORTHERN IRELAND, UK - As at the 1 December 2015, the total pig herd in Northern Ireland increased by 7 per cent on the previous year, to 533,400 head, according to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland.Nevertheless, despite an increase year on year, December’s figure is 6 per cent lower than that reported in June, although this is the normal pattern for these two surveys.The total female breeding herd recorded an increase of 6 per cent on the year 43,400 head.Furthermore, the other pig category, which includes piglets, weaners, finishers and cull sows, increased by 8 per cent on the year to 484,200 head. Despite an overall increase to the breeding herd in December, the number of maiden gilts recorded actually decreased by 10 per cent on the year to 5,200 head.This could suggest that the NI pig herd might start to contract but these figures can be unreliable, so it is probably too early to tell for certain.

　　据北爱尔兰农业及园艺发展部2015年十二月一日统计，北爱尔兰猪群总数量相较去年增长了7%，达到533400头。尽管年同比在增长，但是十二月猪群数字比六月报告的数字低了6%。据统计育种母猪群总数与去年相比增长6%，达到43400头。此外，其他猪类譬如仔猪、断奶仔猪、育肥猪和淘汰母猪与去年相比增长8%，达到484200头。尽管育种母猪群在十二月增长，未配种小母猪数量实际上与去年相比减少10%，达到5200头。这些数字暗示北爱尔兰猪群约摸开始缩少，但数字并不可靠，所以谈到约摸性还为时过早。