Pork NZ says the closure of butchers, food service and Asian supermarkets in particular, deemed non-essential under covid-19 rules, had immediately shaved local pork demand by about 40 percent.
Local producers account for about 12,500 of the 31,000 pigs consumed weekly and the industry estimates the local surplus will be around 5,000 pigs per week.
Pork NZ chief executive David Baines said it was a simmering animal welfare issue.
“Commercial farms don’t carry much spare holding capacity so not being able to deliver pigs to the abattoir at least on a weekly basis will result in overcrowding.”
He said the wholesale market also had limited capacity to process and freeze additional capacity.
“Pork, like poultry, is in a unique position. We can’t just turn off the supply chain and we aren’t really in a position to export, unlike the red meat sector.”
He said the industry had communicated the issue with the Ministry for Primary Industries.
“We think government now understands the urgency and importance to the sector, but we would underscore there is some real urgency on this.”
Pork NZ had also urged supermarkets to stock more local pork and had reached out to large manufacturers, such as Hellers, asking them to replace its primarily imported pork products with local pork.
“Hellers is actually doing more than their bit to take local product. The issue is that they generally bring in three-piece leg meat and bellies and now they are taking additional products to what they would otherwise need, so that presents challenges in their boning room.”
Baines said certain producers were looking at other “more creative” options to move locally produced pigs, which included export to the Pacific Islands.
“However, this is not in material volumes so isn't something we would consider as a real solution.”
Pork NZ said about 62 percent of New Zealand’s pork consumption is imported, with about 85 percent of this imported pork further processed.
Meanwhile, SAFE – Save Animals from Exploitation – said the issue was more widespread.
“The lockdown has applied pressure to the whole country and there are millions of animals on farm that need to be looked after. Slaughterhouse workers are at risk of covid-19 as well," campaigns manager Marianne Macdonald said.
While the government had gone "above and beyond" to protect human health, they were lagging when it came to animals.
"Protecting animals also protects people so it is important to know what MPI plans to do to ensure the welfare of these animals."
–BusinessDesk
