July 12, 2011

Myanmar's pig prices increase

Pig prices have risen steadily and the number of animals going to the markets is decreasing due to measures implemented to curb the spread of Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome (PRRS) virus, according to a spokesperson for the Myanmar Livestock Federation last week.

Live pigs were selling for about MMK2500 (US$389) a viss (1.6 kilogrammes) in the last week of June but rose to MKK2700 (US$419) in the following week and might hit MKK3500 (US$543) in coming weeks, the spokesperson said.

"Pigs are becoming rare in the townships surrounding Yangon and are being trucked into the city from the Ayeyarwady delta, except for Kyaiklat, Kyaunggon, Einme, Kyangin and Myaungmya townships, where PRRS has been discovered.

"And the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department has already banned the transport of pigs from Bago Region," he said.

He added that normally only one or two truckloads of pigs are trucked to Yangon from the delta a day but now there are five or seven trucks, carrying a total of 400 or 500 animals, entering Yangon from the area.

U Hlaing Myint Oo, chairman of the Pig Farmers and Processors Association, said some farmers were holding onto their swine in the expectation that prices would rise further in the weeks ahead.

Ko Tun Tun, a pork seller at Hlaing Market, said prices had risen from MKK5000 (US$776) a viss in late June to at least MKK6000 (US$932) on July 7. According to the department, at least 1300 pigs have died from PRRS since the first outbreak was discovered in Mandalay in February.