# Reaping of the sow: China to reduce pig count by 1 million amid low prices, deflation risk | South China Morning Post

> China's national breeding sow inventory will reportedly be cut by 1 million head, from 40.38 million to about 39.5 million, to ease pork oversupply. Regulators also reportedly plan to ban feeding slaughter-ready pigs to add weight before sale.

- Date: 2025-06-18 · published 2025-06-18T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: policy · region China · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/24183-reaping-of-the-sow-china-to-reduce-pig-count-by-1-million-amid-low-prices
- Commodities: [Lean Hogs](https://feedsoft.ai/c/HOGS.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Soybean Meal](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SBM.md)

## Why it matters

Fewer sows and reduced secondary fattening would trim hog output and cut feed demand over coming months, which is bearish for hog prices but supportive for feed grain and meal demand over time.

## Read by commodity

- SBM: bearish ▼
- CORN: bearish ▼
- HOGS: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| HOGS | 2025-11-24 | [China cuts sow herd below 40 million amid glut
						 \| The Pig Site](https://feedsoft.ai/events/21944-china-cuts-sow-herd-below-40-million-amid-glut-the-pig-site.md) | +0.4% | +4.8% |
| HOGS | 2024-03-04 | [China tries to stabilise pig population as pork prices plunge](https://feedsoft.ai/events/31188-china-tries-to-stabilise-pig-population-as-pork-prices-plunge.md) | -1.7% | +0.9% |
| HOGS | 2024-06-07 | [China's Pig Prices Rebound in 2024 Due to Market Recovery and Government Intervention](https://feedsoft.ai/events/29749-china-s-pig-prices-rebound-in-2024-due-to-market-recovery-and-government.md) | -0.3% | -2.2% |
| HOGS | 2021-09-23 | [China lowers 2021-2025 sow herd target, seeks to stabilise pork prices \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/45062-china-lowers-2021-2025-sow-herd-target-seeks-to-stabilise-pork-prices-reuters.md) | +4.7% | -7.8% |
| HOGS | 2017-09-29 | [Chinese pig prices rise as Beijing shutters polluting farms](https://feedsoft.ai/events/68941-chinese-pig-prices-rise-as-beijing-shutters-polluting-farms.md) | +5.3% | +16.7% |
| CORN | 2025-11-24 | [China cuts sow herd below 40 million amid glut
						 \| The Pig Site](https://feedsoft.ai/events/21944-china-cuts-sow-herd-below-40-million-amid-glut-the-pig-site.md) | +1.0% | +2.2% |
| CORN | 2023-11-24 | [China to Encourage "More Reasonable Level" of Pig Production - Farm Policy News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/33167-china-to-encourage-more-reasonable-level-of-pig-production-farm-policy-news.md) | -1.8% | -0.4% |
| CORN | 2024-06-07 | [China's Pig Prices Rebound in 2024 Due to Market Recovery and Government Intervention](https://feedsoft.ai/events/29749-china-s-pig-prices-rebound-in-2024-due-to-market-recovery-and-government.md) | +5.6% | -4.9% |

## Sources

- scmp.com: https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3314938/reaping-sow-china-reduce-pig-count-1-million-amid-low-prices-deflation-risk

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.