Thailand checks for swine fever at border

The government in Thailand has decided to place 50 checkpoints along the border with Myanmar. This is to prevent the spread of African swine fever to the country. In addition, Rabobank writes that the animal disease in Vietnam could cause the loss of more than 7 million pigs.

The new checkpoints in Thailand are staffed by authorities from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of the Interior and the military. They will check all trucks with livestock (such as pigs, cattle or poultry) or feed. In this way, the government hopes to keep the virus at bay.

Meat prices in Vietnam rise sharply
Rabobank recently indicated that it expects to increase the pig population in Vietnam by the end of the year, more than 7 million pigs (1 million sows) will be smaller than last year. This also ensures that pork production in the country will be 20% lower than last year. The bank also expects lower production for next year: -5%.

It is not only production and pig populations that suffer from the outbreaks of African swine fever, because meat prices also rose sharply at the beginning of October. In the southeast of the country, the price has increased by 1 Vietnamese dong per kilo (€10.000 per kilo) in 0,39 week. The live pigs are now sold at a price of 52.000 dong per kilo (converted €2,04 per kilo), which is €0,07 more than 1 day earlier. The price increase is due to fears of a shortage of pork.

Australia feels fear
East Timor has also been hit by African swine fever. This ensures that the pig sector in Australia is starting to get quite nervous. The affected country is located just 700 kilometers from the country's northern border, making the authorities in Australia have meanwhile decided to introduce border controls. In this way it wants to keep animal disease out.

Kimberly Baker

Kimberly Bakker is an all-round editor at Boerenbusiness. She also has an eye for the social media channels of Boerenbusiness.

k.baker @boerenbusiness. Nl

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