Moldova pork: Repopulation after african swine fever cull
The two farms affected by African Swine Fever, where approximately 118,000 pigs were culled, will begin repopulation by importing piglets that could be slaughtered starting this autumn.
Simultaneously, although industry officials state that there is no shortage of pork on the domestic market, the Republic of Moldova will also import pigs for slaughter.
"The necessary volume of meat is fully covered even though two quite large farms were affected. A total of 118,000 pigs were affected. The farms will be repopulated in the first stage with small piglets; this will take three to four months," says Andrian Burduja, President of the Association of Pork Producers.
Burduja states that the increases in pork prices circulating in the public sphere are related to agri-food markets, not associations.
"Regarding prices, the situation is stable. Our prices are 3% - 5% lower than in 2024. Any overpricing will automatically lead to massive imports. We, as producers, will not be able to raise prices, even if we wanted to," emphasizes the President of the Association of Pork Producers.
Even though there is no pork shortage, Andrian Burduja announced that the Republic of Moldova will also import pigs for slaughter.
"There is no shortage in April of live pigs for slaughter in the Republic of Moldova. There will be imports in the future as well. The Republic of Moldova imports both small piglets to populate the farms in the Republic of Moldova, plus we import improved pig breeds, including to create that breeding nucleus, and we also import pigs for slaughter," states the head of the National Food Safety Agency (ANSA), Radu Musteață.
Two large outbreaks of swine fever were detected in mid-March at two farms in Roșcani, Anenii Noi district, and Cimișeni, Criuleni district. According to ANSA, from 2016 to the present, 265 carcasses of wild boars infected with African Swine Fever have been discovered in the Republic of Moldova.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
