Devastating ASF outbreak: 20 percent of the pigs in this country had to be culled.

Approximately 118,000 pigs had to be culled in Moldova after several outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF). This accounts for about 20 percent of the total pig population.

Moldova, also known as the Republic of Moldova, has been hit by a devastating outbreak of African Swine Fever since the beginning of 2025. The Moldovan veterinary service reported a total of 30 separate cases in various parts of the country. Two cases affected commercial farms. In total, about 118,000 pigs had to be culled - roughly 20 percent of all pigs in the country.

It is likely that the culling will lead to a decrease in pork production. However, the Moldovan Pig Breeders Association is confident that this decrease will only be temporary. In the fall, the cleared pig farms could reintroduce animals, making the decline short-lived. Furthermore, prices are still stable. According to the association, they are around 3 to 5 percent lower than in 2024. This is expected to remain the case, as any price increase would lead to mass imports of pork and have negative consequences for domestic pig farmers.

Is there now a threat of pork shortage? The Moldovan Food Safety Agency does not believe that the country is facing a pork shortage. However, they do think that some of the demand will have to be met through imports. On the other hand, Moldovan meat processors estimate that there is already a supply gap of around 8,000 tons of pork. This will also be reflected in the price. The average price of pork has already increased by the equivalent of 0.90 to 1 euro per kg. In the coming weeks, a further increase is expected, as imports are subject to relatively high tariffs.

With material from Pig Progress