Australia - Pigs scarce, farmers live high off the hog

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) meat and livestock data shows pig meat production crashed in April to 268,000 tonnes, down 11 per cent on last year to its lowest level since June 1991, while the number of pigs slaughtered also declined by 11 per cent to 373,000. Pork prices hit $3.71 a kilogram in late May, up from around $2.71 a kilo at the same time last year, despite some downward pressure from the swine flu outbreak.