GEORGE TOWN: African Swine Fever (ASF) is the primary bane of the pig-rearing industry and the leading cause behind the sky-rocketing prices of pork in the market, say farmers.
A 2023 outbreak had caused the number of farms in Penang to shrink by 25% as farmers were forced to cull infected livestock, said Penang Pig Farmers Association chairman Wong Fu Sheng.
“There used to be about 160 farms, but now there are only about 120 still in operation,” Wong told The Star.
“To avoid over-crowding of pigs that could heighten the spread of the virus during an outbreak, the remaining farms are also rearing fewer animals.
“ASF remains the industry’s biggest challenge, as many farmers continue to recover from financial losses after their pigs were culled to contain the virus.
“It takes about a year to rear a pig from birth to slaughter,” he added.
Besides Penang, thousands of pigs had to be culled in Selangor and Melaka due to the ASF outbreak, said the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, which caused supplies of pork to drop and prices to rise.
It was reported that a whole local pig now costs about RM1,800 per 100kg, compared to RM1,300 to RM1,400 per 100kg last year.
Wong, who operates a farm in Valdor, where most of Penang’s pig farms are located, said half of them have closed down.
“There used to be about 40 farms here, but only about 20 remain,” he added.
Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik, whose constituency is believed to house the highest concentration of pig farms in Penang, said the last outbreak had decimated the local population.
“Since the outbreak of ASF, the pig population has dropped significantly, with only 20,000 to 30,000 pigs left, compared to around 90,000 at their peak.
Rising operating costs, particularly the price of feed, have also contributed to higher pork prices.
“Maize used to cost RM800 per tonne before the Covid-19 pandemic. At the height of the pandemic, the cost soared to RM2,000 per tonne,” Wong said.
While imported pork has been considered a short-term solution to address supply shortages, he urged consumers to be cautious and verify the source of their meat.
“Our local farms are strictly monitored, with many having transitioned to closed farming systems to tackle environmental pollution, reduce health risks and meet regulatory requirements.
“We need to be aware that there are some countries whose pork products have been banned by health authorities.
“Consumers need to check and ensure that their pork is safe,” he said.
Data from the Department of Veterinary Services showed that as of 2023, there were 401 pig farms in Peninsular Malaysia and another 118 in East Malaysia.
