Pig prices increase, farmers still hesitant to restore herds

From the end of 2022 to early May 2023, the price of pigs for slaughter in the province continuously decreased, lower than the production cost, causing farmers to suffer losses. However, in the past month, the price of pigs for slaughter has increased again, fluctuating between 58,000 - 60,000 VND/kg, farmers have made a profit, but many farmers are still hesitant to re-herd because the price of animal feed is still high.

Pig farmers are excited because pork prices have increased again.

Farmers are excited to escape losses.

According to many pig traders in the province, recently, the price of live pigs has been from 50,000 - 53,000 VND/kg, causing small-scale farmers to continuously suffer losses, many households have reduced their herds or suspended their barns, and large farms have also cut back on production due to high feed prices. The current pork supply is not enough for the market, leading to the recent increase in live pig prices.

In recent days, Ms. Ngan, residing in Long Giao hamlet, Long Chu commune, Ben Cau district, has continuously received calls from local pig buyers "begging" her to sell her herd of 12 pigs, but she still does not want to sell, partly because the weight of the pigs is about 85-90kg/pig, and partly because she wants to wait for the price of live pigs to increase to over 60,000 VND/kg before selling.

Ms. Ngan said that her family currently has about 25 pigs, including 12 pigs, 11 piglets and 2 sows. Each day, the pigs consume nearly 2 bags of mixed feed, with a total cost of over 800,000 VND. To save money, the family collects water hyacinth, chops it up, and mixes it with feed to feed the pigs at noon. According to Ms. Ngan, with the price increase since the beginning of May, she hopes that the price of live pigs can reach 60,000 to 65,000 VND/kg, at which price, farmers will make a profit.

Having just sold 14 pigs for nearly 90 million VND, Mr. Tan, residing in Sa Nghe hamlet, An Co commune, Chau Thanh district, said that recently, the price of pigs has continuously dropped, sometimes only 47,000 VND/kg, causing farmers to lose an average of 500,000 VND/pig.

Currently, live pigs cost VND58,000/kg, while higher quality ones cost VND59,000 - 60,000/kg. He hopes that this price will be maintained or increased from now until the end of the year so that farmers can recover their capital.

According to Mr. Tan, his family currently has about 30 pigs, each weighing approximately 60 kg. If in the near future, the price of pigs exceeds 60,000 VND/kg, he will be able to pay off all the money he owes the animal feed dealer.

Farmers are excited to escape losses.

Farmers are not bold enough to re-herd.

Pig prices have increased after a long period of sharp decline, making farmers very excited, but many are still worried and have not dared to restock.

Ms. Huynh Thi Thu Nga, residing in Phuoc Thanh Hamlet, Phuoc Vinh Commune, Chau Thanh District, who has nearly 20 years of experience in pig farming, said that although pig prices have recently increased again, market factors are still unstable, many large labor-using enterprises in industrial parks are continuously cutting labor, purchasing power has not increased. The current increase in pig prices is not sustainable.

Besides, currently, the price of animal feed is still high, pushing up the cost of raising livestock, the average selling price of pigs for slaughter must be over 52,000 VND/kg for farmers to break even. At the same time, the risk of African swine fever returning is very high, so her family has not yet considered restocking.

According to Mr. Son, residing in Phuoc Dong hamlet, Long Phuoc commune, Ben Cau district, for more than a year, his family's pig pen had to be left empty because the price of pigs was low, the cost of raising pigs was high, and he suffered continuous losses, so he had to stop raising pigs.

Currently, the price of pigs has increased by nearly 20% compared to before, so his family cleaned and repaired the barn to prepare for re-herding. It is expected that in about 10 days, he will release 10 piglets. However, Mr. Son also cannot hide his worries while the price of animal feed has not decreased, if the price of pigs only goes down a little, farmers will suffer losses, so he does not dare to raise as many as before.

According to some traders, at this time, prices have increased but many farms have no more pigs to sell. Meanwhile, the price of piglets is increasing every week, currently at nearly 1.3 - 1.5 million VND/head (7-10kg). Compared to last month, it has increased by nearly 100,000 VND/head. Due to the uncertainty of the market, many farmers have not dared to re-herd.

The price of live pigs in the province is currently fluctuating around 59,000 VND/kg.

A representative of the provincial Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine said that since the beginning of the year, the livestock situation in the province has developed stably, without any outbreaks of disease. There are currently over 9,700 buffaloes; 103,000 cows; 240,200 pigs and 9,100,000 poultry.

The livestock farming structure continues to shift from small-scale farming to concentrated farm-scale farming, ensuring biosafety. Currently, in the province, there are 73 livestock farms certified by VietGAHP (26 chicken farms, 41 pig farms, 4 cattle farms, 1 fish farm and 1 soft-shell turtle farm).

The price of live pigs at some large farms is around 59,000 VND/kg, an increase of about 2,000 VND/kg compared to the beginning of last week. The price of live pigs in the market also fluctuates from 57,000 - 58,000 VND/kg. This is the highest increase since the beginning of the year. With this price, household farmers make a profit, and companies and businesses that raise pigs in a closed chain, saving costs, have higher profits.

Nguyen An

Source link