People hesitate to restock their pigs because they are afraid of disease.

Since the Lunar New Year of At Ty - 2025, the price of live pigs has continuously increased, causing the price of finished pork products to increase as well. However, due to the complicated developments of African swine fever and the scarcity of pig breeds, people in many localities are hesitant to invest in herd restoration.

Mr. Quang is trying to take measures to protect his pigs - Photo: TP

Around this time a year ago, Mr. Nguyen Van Thuc, in Duong Le Dong village, Trieu Thuan commune, Trieu Phong district, was preparing to sell old pigs to rebuild his herd. However, this year, after the pigs died of African swine fever right before the Lunar New Year of At Ty - 2025, his family's pig pen is still empty.

“My family raises 4-5 pigs per litter, maintaining 3 litters each year. Although not much, each year, this pig pen brings us an income of nearly 50 million VND. At the beginning of this year, when there were about 20 days left until Tet, the pigs died due to an epidemic. So all the care and capital just went away with the pigs,” Mr. Thuc confided.

Currently, his family's economy depends on one hectare of rice field. When asked about his plan to re-herd, Mr. Thuc said: "For now, we are waiting for enough time to quarantine the disease. The price of piglets is very high now, previously fluctuating from 800,000 - 1,000,000 VND/pig (6 - 7 kg) and now increasing to 1,200,000 VND/pig (7 - 8 kg). Knowing that the price of pigs in the market is high, my wife and I do not dare to invest capital, afraid that if the disease continues, we will suffer."

Similar to Mr. Thuc, Mr. Hoang Van Hung, in Vo Phuc An village, Trieu Thuan commune, Trieu Phong district, currently only raises one sow. At the end of 2024, African swine fever broke out, forcing him to sell his entire herd of 40 pigs at a loss.

“If there were no epidemic, I would have planned to expand my farm and increase my herd to 50 pigs. However, in this situation, farmers like us have to wait for the epidemic to stabilize and for piglet prices to decrease before we can rebuild our herds,” Mr. Hung shared.

Mr. Truong Duc Quang, in Vo Phuc An village, Trieu Thuan commune, Trieu Phong district, also only raises about 30 pigs/batch and does not dare to expand the scale. According to him, in the current situation of high pig breeding prices and complicated epidemics, investing in herd restoration is ineffective.

Not only livestock farmers in Trieu Thuan commune, Trieu Phong district, but also Mrs. Tran Thi Quyt's family in Cam Hieu commune, Cam Lo district, are hesitant to invest in re-herding due to the serious impact of the epidemic.

“Each batch of pigs is raised for about 3 months before being ready for sale. Therefore, the supply of pork for small traders is always abundant. Now that the epidemic can happen at any time, I am also afraid and do not dare to invest in raising a lot. Currently, the price of imported live pigs for traders is about 80,000 - 90,000 VND/kg. Many people contact to ask for pork but there is none to sell,” Ms. Quyt informed.

It can be seen that herd restoration, which is considered a decisive factor for the stability of the livestock industry, is being hindered by the skyrocketing price of piglets. In addition, the impact of the epidemic has also prevented people from boldly investing in herd restoration. This not only directly affects livestock households but also affects a large number of small traders.

According to the reporter's investigation, at traditional markets in the province, pork prices are increasing by 20,000 - 30,000 VND/kg compared to before Tet. Of which, grade 1 pork is priced at 97,000 VND/kg, grade 2 is priced at 93,000 VND/kg; baby back ribs are priced at 170,000 VND/kg; pork chops are priced at 95,000 - 100,000 VND/kg; pork belly is priced at 150,000 VND/kg... The high prices have led to a significant decrease in people's consumption, down 40% - 50% compared to before Tet.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hien, a pork vendor at Phien Cam Lo market, Cam Lo district, said: “Previously, I sold an average of 50-70 kg per day. But now, pork prices are high, people buy less, I import more than 20 kg per day, mainly wholesale to regular customers, retail at the market 5-7 kg per day, but many days I can't sell it all.

In the coming time, if the price of pork does not decrease, the consumption of pork will decrease even more. Although sales are slow, it is not easy to import goods. There are days when traders compete to buy goods because currently many slaughterhouses cannot buy live pigs, so they only slaughter a few pigs each day to keep up with the demand.

Another pork vendor at Dong Ha market, Dong Ha city, added: “Pork prices have increased, some vendors have temporarily stopped selling because of unsold pork. Having been in this business for many years, I have never seen a paradox: pork sales are slow and sluggish, but prices are skyrocketing like now. Sometimes I sit for hours and only have a few people come to ask, but when I tell them the price, they only buy a few ounces of pork, some people just leave.”

The daily increase in pork prices has caused traders to worry, while consumers have had to tighten their spending and look for alternative foods. Ms. Tran Hoang Ha, a consumer in Dong Ha City, confided that pork is a dish that often appears in family meals. However, recently, due to the high price of pork, she has had to buy less and look for other alternative foods.

“My family’s recent menu has increased the amount of foods such as fish, seafood, chicken, duck and green vegetables; and limited pork because the price has increased too much. I wonder how long this situation will last?”, Ms. Ha wondered.

Meanwhile, another group of consumers choose to buy pork at supermarkets and stores instead of traditional markets. According to them, the source of goods here has a more stable price, and ensures origin and safety. At Coop.mart Quang Tri supermarket, the price of pork leg is about 132,000 VND/kg; shoulder meat is about 140,500 VND/kg... A representative of Coop.mart Quang Tri supermarket said that the unit is trying to implement many different measures with the aim of stabilizing prices as much as possible.

Nam Phuong

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/nguoi-dan-ngan-ngai-tai-dan-vi-lo-lon-bi-dich-benh-192320.htm