Pig herd reduction in Thailand
Thailand is starting to feel the impact of live exports and disease outbreaks in its pig inventory. In 2020, the country exported over 2.7 million commercial pigs and parent stock gilts, in 2020, to neighboring Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, according to statistics from the Thai Swine Raisers Association. This accounts for 15% of the country’s total production of about 20.45 million heads. Thailand is the single Asian country that hasn't been impacted by the ASF virus.
The export raised live pig price in Thailand to a record high of about $2.7/kgin 2020. The association estimated that the rising domestic price would slightly boost the country’s pig production to 20.5 million heads in 2021. However, that may not tbe the case as several disease outbreaks have led to a massive culling of sows. 100,000 sows have been culled in the last couple of months, according to official data.
"The number of culled sows is particularly high in outbreak areas such as in northern and eastern regions of the country. Repopulation of the sows in affected areas is unlikely to be realized soon due to movement restrictions being imposed by the livestock authorities.
The movement restriction is also limiting the number of commercial pigs in affected areas to be delivered to abattoirs or shipped to the borders for further exporting to neighboring countries. The falling number of commercial pigs is the main reason that sustains the price of live pigs to the same level as of last year, not the export anymore.
Live pig exports from Thailand to Vietnam via Laos and Cambodia since January 2021 were falling since January to these days. Proliferation of Covid-19 in Vietnam slows the import due to slow consumption domestically.
The only way to recover the Thai pig industry is based on effectiveness in the control of outbreaks and replenishment of fresh breeding stocks and genetic resources from within the country and abroad. Thaifoods Group plans to invest $90 million in new PS commercial farms and feed mills this year and increase its pig production capacity in Thailand by 20%," reported Paul A. Anderson, General Manager South East Asia/ International Sales Manager, Genesus Inc.
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