Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • July 2025
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • 2024 Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. July 2025
    2. June 2025
    3. 2025 Innovation supplement
    4. May 2025
    5. April 2025
    6. March 2025
    7. 2025 Buildings supplement
    8. February 2025
    9. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    10. January 2025
    11. December 2024
    12. November 2024
    13. 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    14. October 2024
    15. September 2024
    16. August 2024
    17. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    18. July 2024
    19. June 2024
    20. 2024 Innovation supplement
    21. 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    22. May 2024
    23. April 2024
    24. 2024 Buildings Supplement
    25. March 2024
    26. 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    27. February 2024
    28. January 2024
    29. December 2023
    30. November 2023
    31. 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    32. October 2023
    33. September 2023
    34. Health Supplement
    Featured

    July 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    July 6, 2025
    Recent

    July 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    July 6, 2025

    June 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    June 4, 2025

    2025 Innovation supplement now available

    June 4, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
Comment

Improving ASF outlook boosts Russia’s global ambitions

Vladislav VorotnitkovBy Vladislav VorotnitkovSeptember 5, 20194 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

In his latest Eastern European update, Russian journalist Vladislav Vorotnitkov takes a look how the region is already looking to a post-ASF future

When it comes to the struggle against African swine fever (ASF) in Russia, 2019 is going to be one of the best years in the past decade.

There have been no outbreaks at any big commercial farms so far this year, and the Russian Agricultural Ministry has forecast that the total number of outbreaks this year will not exceed 54 – three or four times lower than the peak between 2014 and 2017.

Veterinary officials say Russia is close to winning the war for a number of reasons. Firstly, Russian meat giants have put a lot of resource into protecting their farms and the largest now resemble strongholds. Not even flies, which have been found to transmit ASF, can get inside the production units.

In addition, the number of so- called backyard pig farms has been shrinking. They usually have no protection against the virus, aside from a small fence. Repeatedly blamed by Russian officials for propagating the spread of ASF, this sector may pass into oblivion in the coming five or 10 years.

Export plans
Against this background, the Eurasian Union trading bloc has indicated its intention to increase pigmeat exports to 220,000 tonnes in 2020, nearly four times 2019 levels, making it a net exporter, with 2020 imports forecast at 130,000t.

Increased production and  progress in tackling ASF means pork prices in Russia are expected to fall by 10% to an all-time low, as global prices jump by up to 40% due to the ASF epidemic in Asia – possibly making Russian producers more competitive than ever. The only problem is that Asian markets are still closed, although Russia is slowly moving to change that.

The other members of the Eurasian Union have similar targets. For example, ASF-free Kazakhstan wants to triple its pig population to 900,000 head and boost exports to 85,000 tonnes by 2023, according to Serik Tankeev, chairman of the Kazakhstan Union of Pig Producers.

He also outlined an ambition to replenish the depleted Chinese pork market – which could see Kazakhstan enter the top-10 pork exporters in the world.

Far East is at risk
The recent ASF outbreaks in two regions of Russia’s Far East, just miles from the Chinese border, are the only fly in the ointment. The proximity to the border is a concern, particularly with widespread reports of smuggling and of potentially infected wild boar crossing.

Several big projects were launched in the Far East when investors were targeting exports to China and other Asian countries.

Few believed the virus could make the leap across almost 4,000 miles of taiga – the boreal forest of Siberia – that separates infected areas of European Russia from the Far East. Nobody expected an ASF epidemic in China.

In trade negotiations with China, Russia has offered pork from ASF-free regions. A number of regions of European Russia have not seen an outbreak for more than a year, although the Far East lost a significant portion of its export potential when the first outbreak was registered.

Ukrainian decline
There were some apocalyptic forecasts this year that the pig industry in Ukraine may soon cease to exist because of ASF – the number of farms stands at just 1,700 – 1,000 less than four years ago and up to 170,000 pigs were culled because of the epidemic.

The losses are estimated in billions, but the good news is that the number of outbreaks have declined twofold so far this year and prices have jumped by 10% to UAH 114/kg (£3.60/kg).

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleA hands-on, practical approach
Next Article The living truth – straight from the farmer’s mouth
Vladislav Vorotnitkov

Read Similar Stories

Comment: British pork reimagined: Data-led marketing for a changing consumer

July 9, 2025

Comment: Market recovery, export growth and on-farm innovation

July 7, 2025

Comment: Encouraging signs as big pig issues discussed in parliament

July 4, 2025
Latest News

New government food strategy a welcome step, but must be backed by pragmatic policy – NFU

July 18, 2025

AHDB to explore retail trends and consumer perceptions of farming at October conference

July 17, 2025

GB pig prices for week ending July 12, 2025 – SPP continues to inch up

July 16, 2025
Sponsored Content

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024

Tackle the root cause of PWD with free diagnostic tests

March 1, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1763 Scotland

    • Scotland
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Senior Piggery Stockpersons – Ref 1762 Western Australia

    • Western Australia
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Assistant Pig Farm Manager – Ref 1761 Leicestershire

    • Leicestershire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Weekly Tribune
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.