The Ministry of Agriculture has analysed the operating results for the country's pig meat sub-sector for the first quarter of 2014, according to Cherkizovo.

The total production of pigs for slaughter live weight on all categories of farms increased by 9.6 per cent to 855,600 tonnes (+75,200 tonnes) compared to the respective period of last year.

Agricultural enterprises produced 649,000 tonnes of pig meat in that period - an increase of 17.2 per cent or 95,200 tonnes compared to the same period of last year.

The most productive regions in terms of pig meat output were Belgorod Region (170,400 tonnes), Kursk Region (45,000 tonnes), Tambov Region (34,600 tonnes), Rostov Region (29,300 tonnes), Lipetsk Region (27,000 tonnes) and the Republic of Tatarstan (27,300 tonnes).

Pork production decreased in a number of Russian regions in the first quarter of 2014 relative to the respective period of last year, including Samara Region (-5,200 tonnes), Moscow Region (?2,000 tonnes), Perm Territory (-2,000 tonnes) and Voronezh Region (-1,400 tonnes).

Performance figures improved in the pork industry. Average daily gain in fattening and finishing increased by 8.3 per cent to 525g and the number of piglets per 100 sows grew by 1.0 per cent to 631 head.

The Department of Livestock and Breeding of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture is coordinating implementation of the sub-programme 'Development of the Sub-Sector of Livestock, Processing and Marketing of Animal Products' as part of the State Program for agricultural development and regulation of the markets for agricultural products, raw materials, and food from 2013 to 2020.

The government support planned by the State Program promotes the development of livestock breeding, including future growth of the pork sub-sector. These results were analysed and produced by experts from this dedicated department.