Source: MEATINGPLACE, 8/28/19


One of China’s leading hog-producing provinces reportedly is removing some of the restrictions put in place to respond to African Swine Fever (ASF) in an effort to stabilize production.

With ASF decimating the country’s swine population, officials in Sichuan Province are urging city mayors to promote more standards for pig farming, and support farms that produce more than 2 million hogs annually with improved feed plants and slaughter operations, according to a report from Reuters. Local officials also are being urged to remove potential obstacles hindering new construction projects in order to move them toward completion as soon as possible, the report added.

The updated position statement from the Sichuan Dept. of Agricultural and Rural Affairs outlines a goal of producing 40 million hogs annually, a significant decrease from the 65 million hogs produced in the province in 2017. Provincial leaders also are removing a restriction on land use for pig farming and permitting pig farms on specific protected forests, according to the report. Sichuan also is promoting areas with natural barriers that help improve biosecurity on farms by limiting movement of pigs, a major transmission gateway for ASF.

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