Austria-Drop in pig numbers.

AUSTRIA.

PIG PRODUCTION DOWN.

The production of pigs in Austria was down 2% this year, in the global trend of people leaving the pork business.

The numbers are expected to be down 4.1%, by the end of the year.

The country is expected to finish 4.7 million pigs into pork for the year.

Prices have improved throughout Europe in the last few months, however the heavy losses in 2007-2008, caused by high feed prices and low sales returns, have discouraged many pig farmers in Europe.