March 6, 2024

 

Thailand seeks to cut pig production to average of 8,000 piglets daily

 

 

Thailand's pig population is in need of a reduction — and on that note, the country's Internal Trade Department plans to work with the Department of Livestock Development (DLD) as well as the Swine Raisers Association of Thailand to lower pig production to an average of 8,000 piglets per day, the Bangkok Post reported.

 

The action is expected to help stabilise prices for livestock producers in Thailand.

 

The Internal Trade Department's director-general Wattanasak Sur-iam said the department plans to promote for increased consumption of pork to help boost  prices. Presently, the production of live pigs surpassed demand, from an average daily production of 50,000 to 58,000 pigs.

 

The department also wants wholesale and retail stores and department stores to stop holding promotional campaigns for pork products to help mitigate the losses suffered by farmers as a result of low buying prices at farms. It added that the price of fresh whole slaughtered pork is low at ฿130 (US$3.63) per kilogramme.

 

According to Wattanasak, the live pig price at farms is currently at ฿67-68 (US$1.87-1.90) per kilogramme, far below the estimated production cost of ฿72 (US$2.01) per kilogramme.

 

A lower pig production could bring up prices. Furthermore, the department will also assist in cutting production costs, in particular the price of pig feed.

 

Chakra Yodmani, deputy director-general of the Internal Trade Department, said the department is in talks with the Thai Feed Mill Association to follow up on the price of raw material for animal feed.

 

The price of animal feed is the decline, as reflected by the lower price of raw materials in the first two months of 2024, which include corn meal at ฿10.26 (US$0.29) per kilogramme compared with last year's average of ฿12.67 per kilogramme, soybean meal at ฿13.92 (US$0.39) per kilogramme compared with last year's average of ฿16.84 per kilogramme, wheat at ฿7.74 (US$0.22) per kilogramme compared with last year's average of ฿8.23 per kilogramme, and fishmeal at ฿32 (US$0.89) per kg compared with last year's average of ฿36.61 per kilogramme.

 

Chakra said the department will keep a close watch on raw material prices of animal feed and is encouraging producers to reduce prices "accordingly given the continual reduction in price."

 

"Overall, the price of animal feed gradually reduced compared with last year, in particular wheat, and soybean meal which is expected to be further reduced due to a larger area for cultivation in Argentina," Chakra added.

 

The Internal Trade Department will also continue to back an initiative entailing the lowering of animal feed prices through a collaboration between pig farmers and feed millers. This would alleviate losses of farmers for over a year.

- Bangkok Post