Helping Small-Scale Swine Farmers Cope through Improved Efficiency in Pork Production

2006-03-01

The globalization of the swine industry has caused major changes to national and international swine production over the past decade, and these changes are likely to continue. Trade liberalization has dramatically brought about structural changes in the industry, such that less competitive countries are under increasing pressure from imports by more efficient countries with lower costs of production. The real possibility is that, highly efficient countries may soon dominate the world swine market, and that small inefficient swine operations will disappear at an increasing rate.

Given this scenario, what will cushion our small swine producers in less competitive countries within the region from the impact of this structural changes? While swine production in many developed countries has increasingly become dominated by corporate operations, what then is the future for small swine farming operations, which are still prevalent in many rural economies in the Asian region?

Meanwhile, more pork is now consumed than any other meat in the world. World population expansion undoubtedly contributes to increasing pork consumption, but average per capita intake also increased in recent years, especially in many parts of the world where it is the preferred animal protein source. It is now projected that as pork production becomes more efficient with a continuing decrease in the cost of production, and through the promotion of high quality and specialized products that meet the needs of specific markets, pork consumption on a worldwide basis would continue to increase.

All these point to the need to achieve improved efficiency in swine production. Hence, FFTC organized the international workshop on improved efficiency in swine production to provide a venue for the sharing and exchange of technological information, knowledge and experiences among countries in Asia, toward the overall farm efficiency in swine production amid these global trends and developments. Primarily, the workshop aimed to collect and disseminate information on innovative technologies, approaches or strategies to: improve swine reproductive efficiency; improve nutrient utilization; minimize the impact of the production system on the environment; improve the well-being and reduce animal stress; reduce the prevalence of pre- and post-food safety pathogens in meat; improve disease prevention and control; and meet consumer satisfaction and preferences for value-added pork products.

Need for Scientific and Technological Advances

Every nation must be ready with dramatic scientific and technological advances to cope with the structural changes in the swine industry, as an array of technological developments will accompany the projected increase in pork consumption and the need to maximize the capacity of existing production and distribution systems. With the increase in pork demand comes also a major global emphasis on the production of leaner, more efficient pigs that meet the market demand for less fat and more healthy meat. Intense genetic selection for fast growing, lean animals will therefore be vital in increasing growth rate and feed efficiency.

But even with genetic improvement, there are many other factors to consider like sustainability of swine production through optimal nutrition and feed efficiency, animal health and welfare, environmental management, and other related concerns such as public health and food safety issues. Market considerations such as product demand relative to quantity produced, quality demanded in specific markets, tariff arrangements, environmental restrictions, etc., must also be given due attention.

Among the major topics and concerns addressed by the speakers and participants during the workshop in order to address the above technological needs and concerns are as follows:

• Genetic approaches to improving efficiency and quality of swine production;
• Sustainability of livestock production through optimal nutrition;
• Animal health and welfare in sustainable systems;
• Environmental management of livestock systems;
• Public health issues specifically food safety concerns; and
• Policy-related issues.

In Taiwan, advances in molecular genomic analysis has revolutionized how geneticists and breeders evaluate the production differences that exist within the domesticated animals. The swine industry is actively using genome information to improve swine production by marker-assisted selection. Over the past decade, tremendous progress has been made in mapping and characterizing the swine genome. The tools and information have been developed to permit application of genomics in improving the health and performance of pigs.

In Japan, swine breeding can be derived by the open nucleus breeding system and closed nucleus breeding system. The latter one is suitable for breding pig with high genetic ability and uniformity. Traits such as daily gain, backfat thickness and loin eye area, have been the main target traits in the past. However, meat quality has now become a priority trait in strain development. Given the rapid progress in molecular genetics, its application to animal breeding is expected to revolutionize the industry in the near future.

Substantial increases in production efficiency have also been the focus of technological initiatives. Formulation of high-quality, efficient and hygienic feed ingredients to achieve improved animal health and welfare, as well as, pork quality and safety has been given priority. Waste management practices have also become a big concern, focusing on the social responsibility of pig farms.

Challenges and Opportunities for the Swine Industry

There are enormous challenges that the swine sector in Asian countries must face. The workshop proved to be very timely and relevant in the light of global trends that threaten the hope, especially of the region's small-scale producers whose income and economic alternatives depend heavily on the swine industry.

The primary accomplishment of this workshop was getting the commitment of all participating countries to a common cause, and that is to continuously share and exchange technology, knowledge, and information to improve the region's swine industry. The participants believed that there is significant opportunity in the region to improve the competitiveness of pork relative to other forms of meat protein, and thereby make positive contributions in attaining food security and sustainable development within the region.

Among the many challenges and concerns of the swine industry in Asia as identified by the participants, include:

• Sharing and exchange of technology in view of the dominance of small and medium holders among participating countries. While technological needs differ between small holders and commercial operations, the more advanced countries can share the benefits of their technological advancements with the other, less developed countries.
• Mechanisms for the transfer of technologies must be a priority, especially in terms of:
• - Provision of extension services such as delivery of information on swine technologies through training courses, information materials (extension bulletins and leaflets), demonstrations, etc.;
• - Marketing through cooperatives; and
• - Patents and IPR.
• Identifying research directions and priorities through consultations with the stakeholders (farmers, industries, scientists, researchers).
• Strategies for the sharing of new technologies on improving total farm efficiency in swine production developed in each country.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the participants agreed that a mechanism toward an international collaboration on improving total farm efficiency in swine production in the Asian and Pacific region must be set up. There is a critical need for countries within the region to forge international collaboration and harmonization, especially among research, development and extension systems, to complement each other's technological advancements for improving total farm efficiency in swine production.

Exchange and sharing of information among scientists, distributors, traders, retailers, consumers and farmers must also be sustained and enhanced toward the attainment of economic, social, and environmental sustainability of the swine sector in particular, and in providing safe food supply and gaining consumer confidence in the region's agricultural produce, in general.

Index of Images

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  Figure 1 Flow of Swine Industry and Pork Market in Taiwan Roc.

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  Figure 2 Livestock Manure Composting As Part of Animal Waste Management Program in Korea

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  Figure 3 Farmers' Group Meetings in Osaka, Japan Held for the Improvement of Meat Quality