Thailand's Department of Livestock Development said live swine production in the country is expected to decrease by 12% in 2022 compared to last year, The Bangkok Post reported.

Sorawit Thaneeto, director-general of the department, said a nationwide survey of live swine showed the country is raising 10.8 million hogs.

Based on the survey, the department has projected that there will be 11.8% fewer swine in 2022 compared to 2021.

Of these, 49,000 are male breeder swine (41.1% lower compared to 2021) and 979,000 are sows (11% lower compared to 2021).

Sorawit said the declining numbers are due to small-scale farmers putting off raising hogs. The farmers are concerned about the market and the possible pork oversupply because of poor economic conditions.

Some farms have culled livestock to reduce overcrowding for fear of a disease outbreak.

Sorawit said there are 107,000 swine farmers in Thailand, with medium and large farms accounting for 70% of total swine raised. But there are a bigger number of small-scale farms across the country.

He said the reduced swine output could affect markets and retail sales in upcountry areas that obtain pork from small-scale farms. Supermarket supply will remain constant as they procure supplies from larger farms.

-      The Bangkok Post