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last update:Oct 14, 2008
US Grain Council helps Korean swine industry
Due to hog health problems resulting in high death
losses and stunted growth, small Korean hog operations have had low productivity
and poor market performance.
“These farmers do not carry enough resources to stand at a competitive
level with large farm operations in the world market,” said Mr. Byong Ryol Min,
US Grains Council director in Korea. Increasing pork imports and declining
domestic production has resulted in reduced usage of imported feed grains.
Hog inventory
Even though the 2007 Korean hog
inventory was the largest in the nation's history, imported feed grain fell by
75,000 metric tons from 2002. Various types of industry integrations and
production alliances are in operation, due in part to USGC programs; however,
Korea's poor management skills and inexperience have caused inefficiencies in
reducing input costs and supplying quality pork at competitive prices.
Recognising this lasting problem, the Council sought ways to offer
management education opportunities in order to help Korea's swine industry
become more competitive in the world market. Dr Gordon Spronk, USGC consultant
and veterinarian at the Pipestone Veterinary
Clinic Pipestone System,
located in Pipestone, Minn., travelled to Korea this week to review Korea's
swine operations and introduce and educate ways farmers can improve their
business structures and management systems.
Spronk introduced a
programme that combines proper genetics, a healthy diet of soy for protein and
corn for energy, and a low stress environment. The “Pipestone System” is
currently used by 45 sow operations administering over 140,000 head, making it
the fifth largest swine management system used in the United States.
Eager
“Korean integrators had heard of Dr Spronk's
Pipestone System and were very eager to hear what he had to say,” Min said.
“Every participant was very active in asking questions about the business model
and operations system so much so that we ran out of time. Most Korean businesses
expressed interest in sending representatives to the United States for a six
month training session to learn more about the system.”
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