Estonia’s pig population remains below pre-ASF levels

Eight of the 11 pig farms hit by African swine fever last summer have been restocked, but Estonia’s domestic pig population has yet to return to pre-outbreak levels, ERR reports. No cases of the disease were found on pig farms this year.

The outbreak was detected in late August last year at Ekseko, a farrowing farm in Viljandi County. About 8,000 sows and 21,000 piglets were culled there.

Maag Agro board member Priit Reiman told ERR that 2,700 sows have now been brought back to the farm. The first piglets are expected in late November or early December. While the farm was empty, it carried out renovations and modernised its animal-housing and manure-handling systems.

Ekseko also changed its daily operations to strengthen biosecurity, including revising its biosecurity plans and altering farm access and vehicle movements to reduce contact between people and machinery. The surrounding forest was also cleared to make it less suitable for wildlife to live or hide in.

Before the outbreak, Ekseko had nearly 8,000 sows. It will now keep 2,700 to reduce the risk of infection, and some employees have been laid off.

Helen Prommik, an expert in the Agricultural and Food Board’s knowledge services department, said African swine fever was detected this year in 1.2 percent of the wild boar tested, or 122 animals. The highest number of positive cases was in Rapla County, with 33, followed by Harju County with 19 and Lääne County with 14. No cases were found on pig farms.

Of the 19 farms affected by outbreaks, two have ceased operations. One farm operating in rented premises has continued under a new tenant.

Estonia had about 280,000 domestic pigs in early summer 2025. In September 2026, the figure was about 215,000, Prommik said. She added that European pork prices are currently low and said investment support for pork producers could help, potentially leading to a new pig farm in Estonia.