July 15, 2010

 

Vietnam pig breeders suffering losses as meat prices fall

Pig breeders in the southern province of Dong Nai, the largest pig rearing area in Vietnam, are suffering losses due to the decrease in meat prices on the price hikes of feed, local farmers said.

 

Pig breeders are suffering an estimated loss of VND2,000 (US$0.105) or VND3,000 (US$0.157) a kg of meat, said Nguyen Tri Cong, owner of Tri Cong breeding farm in Bien Hoa and Vinh Cuu districts.

 

One kg of pig is offered at only VND31,000 (US$1.63) while production costs hit VND33,000-34,000 (US$1.73-1.79) a kg, said Nguyen.

 

Meanwhile, animal feed prices experienced four times increase over the past two months. A bag of 25kg of mash is traded at VND320,000 (US$16.8), up VND4,000-5,000 (US$0.21-0.26) from several months ago.

 

Local breeders are considering reducing pig flock due to the losses, the farm owner said.

 

Meanwhile, the Department of Animal Health said blue-ear disease has broken out in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang and the central province of Quang Tri, raising total number of struck areas to 18 so far this year.

 

The disease has affected more than 146,600 pigs, of which 66,000 were destroyed, the department said.

 

The disease still remains in six cities and provinces, including Hung Yen, Lang Son, Nghe An, and Cao Bang.