Pig prices increase, farmers cautious about restocking

LOW SUPPLY

Ms. Pham Thi Thuy, residing in Vinh Thanh B hamlet, Vinh Hoa Hiep commune, Chau Thanh district (Kien Giang) raises 20 pigs, of which 10 are ready for sale. “In 15 years of raising pigs, this year is the first time I have seen the price increase and maintain it for the longest time. With a price of 7 million VND/quintal or more, farmers can make a good profit. In the past few years, raising pigs was difficult but made little profit, and some years even lost money,” Ms. Thuy said.

Mr. Nguyen Hung Tinh, residing in Tan Loc hamlet, Tan Thanh commune (Tan Hiep) said that he still has 10 pigs ready to sell, traders have come to his house and offered 8 million VND/quintal. This is the highest price in the past 3 years, after a period of 5.5 - 6.2 million VND/quintal.

Mr. Dang Hoang Hai, residing in Xeo May hamlet, Thanh Hoa commune (Giong Rieng) said that his family currently has a herd of 64 pigs, most of which weigh 80 - 90kg/pig. It will take another 1 - 1.5 months for the pigs to reach 100kg and be ready for sale. "Two weeks ago, the price of pigs was only 7.2 - 7.3 million VND/quintal, now it has increased by more than 500,000 VND/quintal. If the price of pigs is only 6 million VND/quintal, farmers will make a profit," Mr. Hai said. With the current price of live pigs, Mr. Hai makes a profit of more than 4 million VND selling each 100kg pig.

Ms. Pham Thi Thuy, residing in Vinh Hoa Hiep commune (Chau Thanh) takes care of her pigs.

Since the Lunar New Year, the price of live pigs in the market has been increasing continuously. This is different from previous years. Many opinions say that the reason for the high price of live pigs is that most of the pigs have been sold near Tet. On the other hand, the cost of investing in animal feed is high, so people are cautious when restocking. Along with that, the authorities strictly control the smuggling of pigs across the border, so the supply in the market is limited.

In addition, the regulation on prohibited livestock farming areas in inner cities, towns, and residential areas in the province will take effect from January 1, 2025. Therefore, many pig and poultry farming households in areas where livestock farming is not allowed have to stop operating. However, many households do not have the conditions to relocate, significantly affecting the supply of fresh meat to the market.

Deputy Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine of Kien Giang province Nguyen Dinh Xuyen said: "The establishment of large-scale livestock and poultry farms according to the project on sustainable livestock development in the period of 2021-2025 and orientation to 2030 in Kien Giang province has had investors and proposed projects in Kien Luong and Giang Thanh, but there are still problems with procedures for converting land use purposes, so no new farms have started construction and come into operation."

DISEASE CONCERNS

According to pig farmers in Kien Giang province, in 2024, African swine fever appeared, while the vaccination has not yet covered the target, so farmers are cautious and have not boldly restored their pig herds. Ms. Mai Thi Truc Linh, residing in Cong Tre hamlet, Kien Binh commune (Kien Luong) said: "Near Tet, my herd of 60 pigs was about to be sold but all got sick and died. I am worried that the epidemic has not ended, so I have not restored my herd yet."

Staff of the Tan Hiep District Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Station vaccinate people's pigs against African swine fever.

From 2019 to 2024, Ms. Nguyen Sol Pha, residing in Tan Hoa A hamlet, Tan Hiep B commune (Tan Hiep), has been left empty-handed because both herds of pigs were infected with African swine fever. “In this hamlet, out of 10 households, 9 raised pigs, each household raised a few dozen pigs. Now, the whole hamlet has only 1 household raising pigs, but only a few pigs to feed on leftover rice, not daring to raise many pigs,” said Ms. Pha.

Currently, Kien Giang province has 280,000 pigs, a decrease of 60,330 pigs compared to 2018 before the outbreak of African swine fever. From January 24 to February 19, 2025, the provincial Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine will pilot the vaccination of African swine fever vaccine of AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Company in some districts in the province.

Nguyen Dinh Xuyen, Deputy Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine of Kien Giang province, said that the department coordinated to inject 489 doses of vaccine to pigs at 30 small-scale farms in the three districts of Giong Rieng, Tan Hiep and Hon Dat. The pigs developed healthily and normally after vaccination. It is expected that in mid-March 2025, the department will conduct post-vaccination monitoring samples to evaluate the effectiveness before proposing the next solution.

Article and photos: AN LAM

Source: https://www.baokiengiang.vn/kinh-te/gia-heo-tang-nguoi-nuoi-de-dat-tai-dan-25022.html