Animal disease pressures reshape China’s swine farming model
Northern farms shift to fattening as ASF persists
25 April 2025
1 minute read
By: Lingering outbreaks of animal disease, especially African Swine Fever (ASF), are driving structural shifts in China’s swine industry, with farms adapting their business models based on geography and risk exposure, according to a recent USDA FAS market report.
Northern China, where cold temperatures and open terrain create favourable conditions for disease spread, remains a hotspot for ASF and other illnesses like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome. In response, many farms in the region are abandoning sow breeding and focusing solely on swine fattening, which operates on shorter cycles and is more profitable.
Industry sources indicate the profit from fattening one pig is equivalent to the profit from raising three contract swine.
Meanwhile, southern farms are increasingly taking over breeding operations. Warmer conditions and better herd performance—measured in pigs weaned per sow per year (PSY)—give southern producers an edge. Industry contacts report that the PSY in the south is, on average, five higher than in the north.
While these regional shifts are still evolving, they mark a significant realignment in China’s pork production strategy, as farms attempt to manage disease risk and maximise profitability.
