Due to the impact of African Swine Fever, 53,000 pigs decreased in the fourth quarter of last year

2019 4th Quarter Livestock Trend Survey Results

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] Due to culling following the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF), the number of pigs raised in the fourth quarter of last year decreased by 53,000 heads compared to the same period the previous year.

According to the "2019 Fourth Quarter Livestock Trend Survey Results" announced on the 16th by Statistics Korea and the Livestock Products Quality Evaluation Service, the number of pigs raised domestically in the fourth quarter of this year (as of December 1) was counted at 11.28 million heads. This represents a decrease of 53,000 heads (0.5%) compared to the same period last year and a decrease of 433,000 heads (3.7%) compared to the previous quarter.

This is interpreted as the effect of culling pigs raised on some farms following the first confirmed case of African Swine Fever on September 17 last year. According to Statistics Korea and others, about 380,000 heads were culled during this period.

The number of sows was 1.026 million heads, down 38,000 heads (3.5%) compared to the same period last year and down 37,000 heads (3.5%) compared to the previous period. The number of pig farming households during the same period decreased by 4,000 households (0.1%) and 55,000 households (0.9%), respectively, recording 6.133 million households. Statistics Korea explained that the decrease in pig farming households is more due to the closure of small-scale farms caused by the trend of farm consolidation rather than the impact of African Swine Fever.

The number of broilers raised for chicken meat production was 88.738 million heads, showing an increase of 2.824 million heads (3.3%) compared to the same period last year due to an increase in the number of parent and laying chickens, marking the highest number since statistics began.

The number of laying hens for egg production was 72.701 million heads, a decrease of 2.04 million heads (2.7%) compared to the same period last year. Statistics Korea explained this was due to a decrease in chick production caused by a reduction in the number of newly introduced parent stock.

The number of Korean native cattle and beef cattle was 3.211 million heads, an increase of 98,000 heads (3.2%) compared to the same period last year. This was due to an increase in the number of breeding cows following a rise in Hanwoo prices.

Additionally, the number of dairy cows was counted at 408,000 heads, the same as the previous year, and the number of ducks was 8.637 million heads, a decrease of 359,000 heads (4.0%) compared to the previous year due to a reduction in laying ducks leading to a decrease in meat duck production.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.