The number of pigs detemines the capacity of pork production, and it became the highest number of 10, 090 thousand heads in 1991. Nevertheless, the number of pig operations has been decreasing and the decreasing rate per year was 12.1% from 1992 to 1993. The pig herd size per operation has become greatly enlarged and the rate of enlargement per year was 18.9% during the period. The share of 500 heads and over class was 79.8% in total pig population and that of 5, 000 heads and over was 19.8%. Such a large scale of pig operations has contributed to the growth of pig production in Taiwan.
To consider the technical level of pig production from the statistical data published by Provincial Government of Taiwan, the number of hog production per year per sow has been decreasing year by year and reached 12.5 heads in 1993. On the other hand, the marketed weight and carcass weight have been increasing, and the former was 104kg and the latter was 85.8kg in 1993. The thickness of backfat decreased to 1.71cm in 1993.
Hog price is subjected to seasonal fluctuation and cyclical fluctuation of 4 or 5 years. The small rate of hog price decrease is the main factor for the high capacity of pig meat production in Taiwan.
Hog production cost is the largest factor to determine the capacity of pig meat export. The hog production cost survey is rough and it is difficult to compare the hog production costs of Taiwan with those of Japan. The total hog production costs cover the range of 14.9 to 16.5 thousand Yen and they build up the low cost production structure. It depends on many factors to fix the low cost structure, and the author considers that the low cost is due to self compounded feed of imported corn and others. Such feed can be available owing to the relaxation of restriction of feed import system in Taiwan.
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