QAF Meats produces 20 per cent of the national pork volume, with piggeries in Victoria and southern New South Wales, reports ABC.

A year ago, the company got rid of 16,000 sows and let 100 staff go, but the pork shortage and low grain prices mean the company can again expand.

However, managing director Paul Pattison hasn't ruled out future cuts due to the economic downturn.

"We certainly hope to avoid that at all costs, but you can never say never," he says.

"At the moment, given the supply side, given the market, given the improvement in grain prices from our point of view, which is totally the reverse for the grain farm I might point out, we see the pig price being quite encouraging in the next year or two."