However in the past year alone imports of processed pig meat products have increased by 40 per cent and now account for 64 per cent of the processed market.

Industry body Australian Pork has asked the government to trade restrictions in place for 12 months to allow the industry time to implement structural adjustment. High grain prices mean that local producers are currently losing 55 cents per kilogram which equates to around $40 per animal. A survey has found that about 27 per cent of pig producers were planning to leave the industry.