China floods: economic damage to livestock industry tops US$348 million, 6.4 million chickens dead

The floods in the central province of Henan have killed at least 99 people and affected over 1 millions hectares (2.5 million acres) of crop fields

It has led to the death of 248,000 pigs, 6.4 million chickens and 45,000 sheep and other large livestock, resulting in damage of 2.25 billion yuan (US$348 million)

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The floods have led to a slight rise in the price of poultry, eggs, beef and mutton, according to the agriculture and rural affairs ministry, while the price of pork – the staple meat in China – has remained stable in recent weeks. Photo: Simon Song

Published: 7:15pm, 30 Jul 2021Updated: 11:03pm, 30 Jul 2021

The deadly floods in the central province of Henan resulted in direct economic losses of 2.25 billion yuan (US$348 million) for China’s poultry and livestock industries after 248,000 pigs and 6.4 million chickens died.

The floods, which have been described as the worst in decades after killing at least 99 people, saw some 15,000 farms affected, while another 45,000 sheep and other large livestock also died, China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on Friday.

“From a national perspective, the animal husbandry production order is generally normal, and the impact of floods on the country’s livestock production is limited,” said Yang Zhenhai, director of the Bureau of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services.

“For example, 248,000 pigs died, which is a small percentage compared with the 439 million pigs in the country at the end of June.”

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Counting the financial cost of deadly flooding in China’s central city of Zhengzhou

The floods have led to a slight rise in the price of poultry, eggs, beef and mutton, according to the agriculture and rural affairs ministry, while the price of pork – the staple meat in China – has remained stable in recent weeks.