China hopes to produce larger hogs that consume less grain with new genetic strategy

China is working to improve the genetics of its pig herd by breeding swine that produce more meat while requiring fewer feed inputs.
calendar icon 30 April 2021
clock icon 2 minute read

China’s sow productivity rate is still about 30% lower than the rate seen in its peer countries said Shi Jianzhong, an official with the agriculture ministry’s National Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources Committee. China is still reliant on overseas genetics to supply its pig herd.

Reporting in Bloomberg explains that China’s drive to improve livestock genetics is part of the country’s goal to shift away from agricultural imports in favour of domestically produced food. However, for the next decade, China will have to bring livestock from overseas to shore up its genetic resources and catch up with other advanced countries.

The agriculture ministry believes that if it optimizes swine genetics to create a breed that grows heavier on less feed, the country will reduce pressure on agricultural land and save millions of tonnes of feed grains.

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