According to official data, the number of pigs in China in February fell by 16.6% (year on year). These data were transmitted by the Ministry of Agriculture of China. The number of sows fell by 19.1% in February compared with the same month a year earlier, according to data from 400 counties from across the country.
The total livestock, compared with January, decreased by 5.4%, and a herd of sows by 5%. According to the World Organization for Animal Health, China since August 2018 has reported 117 outbreaks of African swine fever in 28 provinces and regions. Since then, the virus in Asia has spread to Mongolia and Vietnam.
China imports large pork batches from the United States. Over the weekend, further evidence emerged that African swine fever is having a very serious impact on the Chinese pork market. Bloomberg reported that China made the largest purchase of American pork in two years - 23,800 metric tons. According to Bloomberg, it was the biggest sale since April 2017. Bloomberg also added that China also began to purchase pork domestically in order to increase its own stocks.
It is estimated that the ASF virus is found in 30-50% of Chinese pig farms. Since China is the leader in the number of pigs, it means that ASF is one of five pigs in the world.
Source: kvedomosti.ru.
