Stocks of Chinese breeding sows show signs of growth, with data released in October showing a 0.6% increase for the first time in 12 months. This may be the first attempt to restore the world's largest herd of pigs after a reduction of more than 40% caused by numerous outbreaks of African swine fever in the past 16 months.

The decline in the herd of pigs has also slowed, said Yang Zhenhai, director of the livestock and veterinary bureau at the Ministry of Agriculture. Yang said the pig population in October fell 0.6%, down from 3% in the previous month. He did not report a decrease on an annualized basis in October, but in September it decreased by 41% year on year.

Pigs are the basis of agriculture in many countries of the world. Meat is eaten, bristles are used on paint brushes, pancreatic extract is used in pharmacology.

According to the ministry, the number of pigs in the national herd fell by about 175 million. Experts estimate that over the next five years, China will not have a real opportunity to restore its herd of pigs at levels fixed before this biosafety crisis.

The risk of another series of outbreaks is well known to the authorities. Direct speech: “African swine fever has infected large areas of our country, and outbreaks are expected to continue in different places,” admitted Zhenhai.

To open the pork deficit, China has opened a gate for imports, mainly from Europe, Brazil and Canada. American pork is still on the market, but it is taxed at 65% because the trade war between Washington and Beijing is still ongoing. At the same time, imports of beef, poultry and sheep meat rose sharply.

• The Chinese government plans to support the domestic pig industry after reducing the number of pigs in the country due to ASF.
• In the country of Southeast Asia, more than 4 thousand pigs died, for some reason, because initial laboratory tests show that African swine fever is absent, but official confirmation has not yet been received.
• The bad news from Western Poland, after further studies were carried out, the number of officially confirmed cases of ASF in wild pigs has increased.
• In western Poland, in the province of Lebus, another of the 20 dead wild boars, infected with ASF, was discovered.
• The Australian government has created an agency, the National Wild Boar Coordinator, to monitor the number and health of wild boars.