THE MONG Reththy Group plans to begin domestic distribution of 3,000 newly reared Yorkshire pigs starting in April, a manager at the firm said, after importing swine from the United Kingdom for breeding a year ago.

Ly Lavil, manager of the company’s pigs farmhouse, told the Post Sunday that it would sell 8-month-old animals for between US$420 to $500 each.

“We hope farmers will be interested … because the species breeds very rapidly, which enables farmers to raise their incomes,” he said.

Between December last year to March, Mong Reththy Group says it spent $5 million to import 500 sows from the UK to launch a breeding house in Preah Sihanouk province.

Chan Socheat, president of Kampong Speu province’s Pig Raising Association, which breeds around 500 sows, said Sunday he would purchase 30 of Mong Reththy’s Yorkshire breed, which, he added, would be followed by 100 more were the trial to prove successful.

“The first batch bred by Mong Reththy Group is a pure species, which economically means they have more potential than locally bred pigs,” he said.

The industry continues to face problems of inadequate feed supply and low prices at market, particularly compared with imported animals.

According to the Pig Raising Association, half of Cambodia’s pig farmers have ceased operations, and local animals sell at just 7,800 riels (US$1.85) per kilogram, compared with 8,500 riels for imported animals.

Ministry of Commerce data shows that pork prices at markets in Phnom Penh have dropped nearly 4 percent this year.