In the same period last year the county produced 31,160 tons and this year it was only 29,410 tons. A decrease of 5.6 per cent. This follows from the statistics of the Czech Statistical Office.

South Moravia produced 325,880 pigs in 2010, 316,430 last year, this year it had been only 300,370. For beef, the percentage decline is even higher. Last year, 7,460 were slaughtered cattle, this year 6510, which is 12.8 per cent less.

According to the Director of the Agrarian Chamber of South Moravia, Jaromir Musil,drastic improvment in fortunes can not come soon enough.

"The downtrend has two causes; the lack of fodder and the price being offered by processors to producers," said Director Musil.

Production drops are not as significant in previous years because the main reduction per head has been seen in sheep which impacts less due to them having smaller caracasses.

A rapid turn around is required in both breeding and production. Mr Musil says the easiest way to do this is to increase pig numbers.

"One solution is of course to buy piglets, but if someone wants to have a closed system, the short term options are not available."

The production of meat in South Moravia still remains the second highest of Czech regions. The Czech Republic, in the first three quarters of this year, have slaughtered, 169,000 cattle and 2.09 million pigs.