Pig disease control key to stabilising pork prices

The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Commerce yesterday issued another eight measures to stabilize the pig supply and prices.

The elimination of the disease has become a top priority for the departments as it can dispel the fears of breeders and spur them to raise more pigs, the report said.

The highly contagious disease, also known as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, often causes miscarriage and other reproductive problems in pigs. Nearly 40,000 pigs or 27.5 percent of those with the disease had died in 586 epidemic areas as of July 10. Nearly 80 million vaccines have been used to prevent the disease, but the supply is still insufficient, said the report said.

The departments also urged the production of more non-staple foods, including beef, lamb, eggs and seafood, to substitute pork. New processing projects for corn were banned because the projects would raise the price of corn, which is fed to pigs. The departments called for a strict crackdown on those who intentionally drive up pork prices, said the report.

Pork wholesale prices polled by the Ministry of Commerce in 36 large- and medium-sized cities averaged 18.57 yuan (US$2.44) per kilogram on July 11, up nearly 30 percent from the 14.25 yuan on May 11. The average retail price for lean pork has exceeded 22 yuan per kilogram.

Huang Hai, assistant minister of commerce, said last week that pork will continue to be expensive in the latter half of the year as a supply shortfall takes time to resolve, said the report.

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Source: Shanghai Daily

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