# UPDATE 2-China official urges farmers to reduce sow herds

> China's agriculture ministry urged hog farmers to cut sow herds after live hog prices fell for 11 straight weeks to 16.3 yuan per kg, below the breeding cost. The sow herd is nearly 44 million, above the reasonable range, and COVID-related demand weakness has muted consumption.

- Date: 2023-01-18 · published 2023-01-18T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: policy · region China · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/37765-update-2-china-official-urges-farmers-to-reduce-sow-herds
- Commodities: [Lean Hogs](https://feedsoft.ai/c/HOGS.md), [Soybean Meal](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SBM.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md)

## Why it matters

Expected herd reductions would lower future hog output and soymeal demand, which is bearish for Chinese feed demand and lean hog prices.

## Read by commodity

- SBM: bearish ▼
- SOY: bearish ▼
- HOGS: bearish ▼

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| HOGS | 2024-01-23 | [China to Encourage Hog Farmers to Reduce Capacity After Price Slump - Pork Business](https://feedsoft.ai/events/32125-china-to-encourage-hog-farmers-to-reduce-capacity-after-price-slump-pork.md) | +4.4% | +14.7% |
| HOGS | 2026-04-18 | [China agriculture minister urges pig breeders to reduce capacity as prices fall \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/19720-china-agriculture-minister-urges-pig-breeders-to-reduce-capacity-as-prices-fall.md) | +1.4% | +3.3% |
| HOGS | 2022-11-16 | [China's pork prices to stay relatively stable: official - Chinadaily.com.cn](https://feedsoft.ai/events/38679-china-s-pork-prices-to-stay-relatively-stable-official-chinadaily-com-cn.md) | -1.5% | -5.0% |
| HOGS | 2026-06-24 | [China Urges Pig Breeders to Cut Capacity After Prices Fall to 10-Year Low](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18778-china-urges-pig-breeders-to-cut-capacity-after-prices-fall-to-10-year-low.md) | -0.1% | +6.5% |
| HOGS | 2022-07-20 | [China's hog supply guaranteed in H2: official-Xinhua](https://feedsoft.ai/events/40471-china-s-hog-supply-guaranteed-in-h2-official-xinhua.md) | +2.9% | -5.3% |
| SBM | 2024-01-23 | [China to Encourage Hog Farmers to Reduce Capacity After Price Slump - Pork Business](https://feedsoft.ai/events/32125-china-to-encourage-hog-farmers-to-reduce-capacity-after-price-slump-pork.md) | -0.4% | -3.4% |
| SBM | 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) | -0.0% | -2.4% |
| SBM | 2025-06-11 | [China Nudges Pig Farmers to Restrain Supply After Prices Slump](https://feedsoft.ai/events/24184-china-nudges-pig-farmers-to-restrain-supply-after-prices-slump.md) | -3.5% | -8.8% |

## Sources

- agriculture.com: https://www.agriculture.com/markets/newswire/update-2-china-official-urges-farmers-to-reduce-sow-herds

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