This is the advice of the Federation of Livestock Farmers Association pig unit head Beh Kim Hee following the rising global price of maize and feed and the Indian Government’s decision to ban the export of maize, reports The Star.

Beh said another way for them to stay afloat was to rear suckling pigs.

“Malaysia imports all its suckling pigs from Vietnam but if pig farmers can take up 30% of the share, it would benefit them,“‘ he said here yesterday.

He explained that Vietnam is exporting nearly all its suckling pigs to China.

Beh said although farmers had raised the ex-farm price of pigs from RM5.60 per kg to RM7.10 in the past two months, it was still not enough to sustain the high cost of production.

“Some farmers are selling off their pigs at cheaper prices because they need cash to buy the various feed ingredients which are more costly now,“ he said.

Beh said the price of maize had risen from RM1,050 per metric tonne to RM1,500 early this month.

He said soya bean meal, which comprises 20% of the feed, costs RM2,100 per metric tonne now compared to RM900 a year ago while wheat prices had tripled to RM900 within a year.

Pig farmers are facing the prospect of not having any supply of maize for the next few weeks, he added.

View The Star story by clicking here.