February 27, 2007

Thailand launches campaign against public piglet slaughter

Thailand's Commerce Ministry and Livestock Development Department under the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry are to conduct a campaign urging swine breeders to stop killing piglets in public, a practice which is illegal, Thai media reported Monday.

The two agencies have circulated a warning letter to breeders in central province Nakhon Pathom, which killed hundreds of piglets in a public area over the weekend in protest to the government over the animal's falling prices, according to major daily the Nation.

The Commerce Ministry's Internal Trade Department director- general Siripol Yodmuangcharoen said he had talked with Yukol Limlamthong, deputy permanent secretary of the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, about the ministry taking legal action against the breeders.

Officials and pig breeders have agreed to gradually slaughter 100,000 piglets this year. The move is aimed at solving the problem of oversupply, which is bringing down the retail price of pork.

The two ministries have organized a special marketing campaign to sell two kilograms of pork for 100 baht. Consumers have urged them to supply cheaper pork to more fresh markets.