Profiles of the Chinese Pig Industry

No matter whom you ask, the answer will be the same: China is the No. 1 pork producer and consumer on this planet. In the year of 2000, 527 million heads of pigs were slaughtered, and nearly 50% of all pork in the world is now produced in China (NBSC, FAO, USDA, 2002). The 1.3 billion consumers seem to prefer pork over any other meats in their meals-essentially all pork produced in the country is consumed domestically. Depending on whom you ask, you will at least have some different answers about the profiles of the Chinese pig industry. In 1999, a survey conducted by NBSC (National Bureau of Statistics of China) revealed that households in rural China raised an average of 1.48 pigs (NBSC, 2000). One person of 8 in the world is a Chinese farmer. Another frequently quoted statistic is that about 80 percent of all Chinese pigs are produced in the backyards of farmers’ homes. Recent reports prepared in 2002 by hog industry associations in Zhejiang, Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangdong provinces proposed that 40 to 50 percent of the hogs were produced on ‘scale farms’ in those provinces. However, it is difficult to precisely define a ‘scale farm’ and validate the reports without more reliable data. What are the correct numbers to describe the profiles? The reality may be simple: there has been no sound and comprehensive investigation/survey accomplished so far in order to accurately profile the industry. Increasing market openness inferred by China’s accession to the World Trade Organization, continued income growth, and the shift of food consumption patterns towards more meat have attracted more and more attentions from the rest of world on Chinese pork industry. This report attempts to depict the pig industry in China by exploring the production costs and major constraints of several swine producers. Key factors and issues will accordingly be stressed to illustrate what differentiates the Chinese pig industry from other countries’ and what direction the industry is heading infor the future. Case 1: Ms. Yan - Struggling Backyard Producers Ms. Yan is 64 years old and has been raising two pigs for the last 40 years except for several extreme years in early 1960s when many people died of famine. She and her husband re-built their house in rural Shandong Provinces at least six times in the last 40 years. In those very difficult years amid the Cultural Revolution, 3 or 4 pigs a year could add a significant part of family revenue. Food grain (mainly wheat) was never enough for four young children in the early years. Selling a pig two or three times a year allowed for the purchases of other foods in return. Table 1. Operation Description of Ms. Yan’s 2-pig Farm. Items Note 1. Feeder Pigs- bought from local bazaars at about 15 to 23 Kg and about $0.85/Kg 2- or 3-way crossbred. Pay can be deferred as short-term debt. 2. Feed- only about 10% of the feed is grain, protein meals, and premixes; others are food residues with no cost. Only feed little grain at early and late stage. 3. Days to market- about 200 days from 20 Kg to 65 Kg. 4. Market pigs- sold to dealers or on local bazaars. Live weight price varies from $0.65 to $0.80/Kg in 2002. 5. Manure- stored in a open pit for field application Considered to have value 6. Labor & Vets- time used for buying and selling pigs and cleaning; vets and drugs cost about $10 per pig. No opportunity cost for labor included TTable 2. Consolidated Balance Sheet of Ms. Yan’s 2-pig Operation, June 30, 2002 Items Amount, USD Items Amount, USD Assets Liability Current Cash for feed and vets 42 Short term debt for feeder pigs 19 4% premix and other feed in store 9 Taxes payable 4 Fixed Pig shed, trough, and tools 133 Pigs 77 Total equity 238 Table 3. Estimated Consolidated Income Statement of Ms. Yan’ 2-pig Operation, December 31,2002 Items Amount, USD Note Revenues Pigs sold 141.5 3 pigs