Fourth outbreak in China, panic in the market

The fourth outbreak of African swine fever in China is a fact. After several infections had already been detected in the northeast of the country, the animal disease is now advancing further south.

The Chinese authorities report on Thursday, August 22 that an outbreak of the African swine fever has been found in Zhejiang Province, which is located in the middle east of China. This makes this outbreak the furthest (more than 2.000 kilometers) from the place where the disease developed early August was officially established for the first time. About 340 pigs died in the fourth outbreak. This happened at 3 different production locations, which are close to each other.

Lots of live transport
Meanwhile, at least 20.000 pigs have already been culled in China. Which the virus advancing further and further south is not surprising; from the north many pigs are transported to slaughter locations in the more southern provinces. The country is now cautiously opting for a national transport ban. In South Korea, the government has also called on not to transport pigs near the Chinese border.

In areas where African swine fever has been detected, pig farmers have panicked. That is why they offer pigs en masse, to prevent a possible outbreak. This causes pig prices to fall, partly because all pigs in the slaughterhouse have to be checked for the disease. Pig prices are rising in other parts of the country. National daily prices thus show a fluctuating picture.

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is editor-in-chief of Boerenbusiness. He also focuses on dairy, pig and meat markets. He also follows (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

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