The pig farming sector recorded lower prices for porkers and higher prices for piglets in 2009 as compared with 2008. The lower feed prices resulted in a significantly higher cash balance per sow, while the cash balance per porker was substantially lower as compared with 2008. As a result, the movement in income recorded in 2009 as compared with 2008 varies greatly with type of pig farm, with a significant improvement for sow farms, a substantial deterioration for porker farms and a slight fall for closed farms. The average pig farm’s operating income amounted to 10,000 euros per unpaid ALU in 2009, a low level that will compel many pig farmers to draw down on their equity for the third year in succession.
http://www.lei.dlo.nl/publicaties/PDF/2009/2009-088_summary.pdf