December 26, 2019

Demand for swine feed in Philippines unaffected by African swine fever

A United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service report stated the Philippines' government has successfully slowed the spread of African swine fever (ASF) though pork consumption remains low, reported The Philippine Star.

These measures include movement restrictions for swine, swine products and livestock feed ingredients.

The USDA has reduced its feed wheat consumption projection for the year from 300,000 tonnes to only 100,000 tonnes, also citing the conversion of backyard swine farmers from swill to commercial feeding, as well as larger demand for livestock feed from swine farmers in Visayas and Mindanao group of islands for Luzon consumption.

To manage the lower pork consumption, bigger swine farms are reducing inventories.

Philippine Statistics Authority data through September 2019 showed swine inventories are lower by close to 1% year-on-year.

Central Luzon and Calabarzon are the two main regions in Philippines affected by ASF, which produce a third of the country's swine and 30% of its swine inventory. 

Central Luzon reported a 1.5% drop in swine production in the third quarter this year, while Calabarzon reported an 8.4% increase because of additional slaughters by farmers to halt the spread of ASF.

-      The Philippine Star