Value chain upgrade is vital to handle bigger pigs

The slaughter weight of pigs has increased as genetics have improved, bringing greater financial viability for farmers.

- Lindi Botha

Larger animals, however, necessitate changes in management of the pigs throughout the value chain and the infrastructure. But with the industry under pressure, upgrades have failed to keep up.

Dr Matthys Uys, a veterinarian for retail chain Woolworths, told Farmer's Weekly that the larger slaughter weights were creating challenges in the value chain, which negatively impacted animal welfare and meat quality.

"We are not blind to the pressure farmers face to produce more with less. But we need to find a better way forward across the value chain. We're not saying slaughter weights should go back to 75kg instead of 100kg, but we need to look at how we can produce a quality product that is profitable and makes consumers want to buy more pork."