Virus could reduce US pig slaughtering by 12.5%

North American pig slaughtering could decline nearly 12.5% in 2014, relative to 2013.

US pork production is anticipated to decline 6% to 7%, the most in more than 30 years.

According to Rabobank’s Food & Agribusiness Re-search and Advisory team, Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDv) has hit about 60% of the US breeding herd, 28% of the Mexican herd, and is developing in Canada.