November 13, 2007

Taiwan to kill 60,000 piglets to stem slide in prices

To stem a prolonged slide in prices, Taiwan's Council of Agriculture and the ROC Swine Association are killing up to 60,000 piglets to prevent domestic pig prices from further falling.

The killings are also done to adjust the medium- to long-term pig supply for the period after the next Chinese New Year, according to Huang Ing-haur, director of the Animal Industry Department under the COA.

The COA authorised the killing on Friday of 900 piglets in Tainan County in southern Taiwan to halt a prolong slide in prices.

The government is concerned that pig farmers are incurring massive losses due to rising feed prices and low selling prices for pork. Pig farmers are reportedly losing NT$1,000 (US$31) per pig.

The COA is also controlling pig slaughter at the island's 21 slaughter houses and absorbing excess supply. The excess pigs would be slaughtered and frozen.

Chairman of the ROC Swine Association, Chiang Jui-hsing, said the pig selling price has fallen 22 percent to NT$47 (US$1.4) from (US$1.8) in June this year.

Meanwhile, feed prices have doubled from April this year, he noted.