September 11, 2012

US South Dakota's pig industry expansion to reap benefits

The efforts of South Dakota, US, to expand its hog industry seems to be gaining benefits due to the importance of growth in supporting its packing and feed milling infrastructure.

"We're going to add an additional (of) 5,000 to 5,500 head of sows and most of those pigs will also be finished in the state as well… We are adding about 20,000 finishing spaces of brand new facilities to bring those hogs back into the state," according to Glenn Muller, executive director of the South Dakota Pork Producers Council, as he refers to hogs that are currently being contract fed outside South Dakota.

The growth is the result of a long range plan the organisation implemented two years ago with an objective of increasing hog numbers in the state, according to Muller.

"We want to make sure it's responsible growth; that we're protecting the environment and the communities that we develop in," said Muller.

The permitting process is complete for those operations, according to Muller, and construction is underway to add at least four operations by next year.