Despite a sharp drop in live pig prices, consumers still have to pay high prices.
Speaking to a VietNamNet reporter on the morning of October 28th, Mr. Tran Thao, the owner of a pig farm in Bao Thang commune ( Lao Cai province ), said: “The price of live pigs has stopped falling today, remaining at 42,000-44,000 VND/kg. Hopefully, this is the bottom price.”
According to Mr. Thao, at current prices, even farms that can independently source their own breeding stock are losing about 800,000 VND when selling a 120-130kg pig.
This is the loss he calculated based on indicators of efficient livestock farming, with production costs ranging from 49,000 to 50,000 VND per kilogram of live pig. For households with high loss rates, coupled with the need to purchase piglets, the losses are even heavier.
"This year, pig farming is difficult. The price of live pigs is trending sharply downward, while the price of feed has increased by 3,000 VND/kg since the beginning of the year, and is expected to increase by another 2-3 rounds between now and the end of the year," he said.