Swine industry recovery in China creating opportunity

Jan 16, 2023

Despite setbacks, China is determined to grow its swine industry after taking a massive hit from African swine fever (ASF) in 2018. This has created opportunities for international collaboration, according to a new report from the Iowa Economic Development Association (IEDA).

Tony Wang, IEDA representative in Shanghai, China, said the road to recovery has been bumpy, especially as the country endures complications from COVID-19, the pig cycle, inflation, and other factors.

Following the devastation caused by ASF, China’s pork imports went up significantly in 2019 through 2021. At its peak in 2020, Wang said the U.S. accounted for roughly 14% of China’s pork imports. As China gradually rebuilds its swine herd, however, pork imports have dropped sharply. Still, Wang said lingering impact of ASF combined with the effect of the “pig cycle” and market speculation activities have kept the current pork prices fairly high (around $4.6/kg).

Challenging as it may be, China has set clear targets for building back its swine industry, Wang noted.

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Video: Genetics vs Genomics in Swine - Dr. Max Rothschild

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Max Rothschild, Distinguished Professor at Iowa State University, explains how genetics and genomics have transformed swine production. He explores genomic selection, key gene discoveries, and the role of gene editing in improving disease resistance and productivity. Practical insights on litter size, meat quality, and industry adoption are also discussed. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Genetic improvement in swine production accelerated significantly once molecular tools enabled identification of DNA level variation influencing growth, reproduction, and meat quality across commercial populations."

Meet the guest: Dr. Max Rothschild / max-f-rothschild-b3800312 earned his PhD in Animal Breeding from Cornell University and has spent over four decades at Iowa State University advancing swine genetics and genomics. His research focuses on genetic improvement, disease resistance, and molecular tools for swine production. A leader in pig genome research, his work has shaped modern breeding strategies.