China official urges farmers to reduce sow herds
Jan 18 (Reuters) – China’s agriculture ministry urged farmers on Wednesday to take measures to reduce excess pork output and pressure on prices, which an official said have fallen below the cost of breeding due to weak consumption.
China is the world’s top pork producer and has struggled for years with volatile prices and cyclical hog production, especially since an outbreak of African swine fever in 2018.
Average live hog prices dropped for 11 consecutive weeks to 16.3 yuan ($2.40) per kilogramme in mid-January, lower than the breeding cost of 16.7 yuan, Zeng Yande, chief agronomist and director of the development planning department at China’s agriculture ministry, said at a press briefing.
China’s hog farmers had expected demand and prices to rise in December ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday that starts on Saturday. Many had raised heavier pigs, hoping to benefit from anticipated price rises.
By Dominique Patton and Ella Cao / Reuters
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