SHAH ALAM, Jan 15 — Malaysia’s pig farming industry has been on the decline for a few years, driven by the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF), rising feed costs, and stricter biosecurity controls.
In Selangor, the number of farmed pigs dropped from 265,739 in 2022 to 260,930 in 2024, even though the state is among Peninsular Malaysia’s main contributors to the industry.
There is a clear declining trend nationally, too, as the number of farmed pigs dwindled from 1.67 million in 2021 to 1.24 million in 2024 — a 25 per cent decrease in three years.
Several states have logged more significant declines, including:
- Johor: 283,800 pigs in 2020 → 112,970 pigs in 2024
- Penang: 341,895 pigs in 2020 → 162,757 pigs in 2024
- Sarawak: 327,000 pigs in 2020 → 141,566 pigs in 2024
Meanwhile, Melaka has had no record of active pig farming since 2022, when the industry was affected by ASF.
Based on the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry’s (MAFS) Farming Statistics Book 2024, the five states with the highest number of farmed pigs were:
- Perak: 421,386 pigs
- Selangor: 260,930 pigs
- Penang: 162,757 pigs
- Sarawak: 141,566 pigs
- Johor: 112,970 pigs
In line with these declining figures, the number of pigs slaughtered have also dwindled. In 2023, 1.33 million pigs were slaughtered nationwide, while in 2024, the figure declined by 15.3 per cent to 1.13 million.
Even though it logged a decrease, Selangor remains the state with the most pigs slaughtered, with 273,059 in 2024, followed by Sarawak (226,800 pigs) and Johor (206,397 pigs), marking Selangor’s role as the nation’s main pork processing hub.
In a parliamentary reply to the Dewan Rakyat on August 7 last year, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said pigs had to be culled in several areas including Sepang and Kuala Langat to prevent the spread of ASF, which directly impacted short-term domestic production.
Meanwhile, state executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Dato’ Izham Hashim said ASF is still prevalent in Selangor, and is being monitored by veterinary authorities.
He added that there are 37 registered pig farms in the state, compared with 41 early last year, after an ASF outbreak in February.
“ASF is a high-risk disease and it is still active, that’s why strict control is still underway, to prevent its spread to other farms.
“We do not allow farms to hastily resume operations. All cleaning, quarantine and monitoring procedures must be adhered to before approval is granted,” he said when met at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Building here yesterday.
Izham added that farming would only be allowed once a farm is confirmed to be ASF-free, and production would be limited to the number approved in farmers’ licences to fulfil the state’s needs.
He also said the state government would not tolerate any violation of guidelines or standard operating procedures, especially those on disease control and the farming industry’s sustainability and welfare.
Based on the Selangor Veterinary Services Department (DVS) records, there were 37 farmers with 18,010 pigs as of December last year, a clear decline from the 41 farmers and 114,820 pigs logged in June last year.
Selangor had an estimated 254,425 farmed pigs last year, putting the state in second place after Perak, which had 425,391 pigs, followed by Penang (164,526 pigs), Sarawak (138,603 pigs), and Johor (111,830 pigs).
Three pig farms in Sepang and Kuala Langat were among those affected by ASF on January 22, 2025.
