Kim Yoo-yong, a professor in the Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology at Seoul National University and the chairman of the Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies (AAAP) / Joint Press Corp.

By Lee Kyung-min

A blind push organized by animal rights activists to reform the current system of industrial agriculture could crash the country's livestock industry, one expert said, Sunday.

As compelling and morally righteous animal rights claims may appear, the concerns of local stakeholders who have firsthand experience in managing the farming environment must not be ignored while promoting animal welfare, according to Kim Yoo-yong, a professor in the Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology at Seoul National University and the chairman of the Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies (AAAP). He delivered a speech at the AAAP Animal Science Congress held at Jeju Convention Center in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, Aug. 25.

Although the U.K. is known for leading the way in requiring high animal welfare standards, in the U.K., the number of pigs there had decreased by half over 25 years to 402,000 as of last December, down from 804,000 in 1997, he said.

"It was a clear collapse of the livestock industry," Kim concluded.

The rapid downturn of the once-booming source of growth led to a subsequent crash and buyouts of related firms in the feed production, slaughter and veterinary medicine industries.

Korea could also face a major crisis if the country's level of self-sufficiency in pork takes a dive to as low as 35 percent, down from the current 73 percent.

"Korea's pork self-sufficiency has a rate of 73 percent, sustained by about 1 million pigs. The figure plummeting to below 35 percent will bring an industry-wide crisis and the loss of livelihoods for pig farmers," he said.

The heated criticism is in reference to the Korean agriculture ministry's plan to limit the use of mating stalls to no more than six weeks in any gestation period. The plan is set to take effect by 2030.

The stalls are a type of crate used to confine female pigs for artificial insemination. It allows the female breeding pig to stand up or lie down but prevents her from turning around, a reason animal rights activists criticize it as inhumane.

The ministry's policy fails to account for deaths among pigs in free, open spaces, that of small and weak ones, he said.

"Pregnant pigs sometimes have miscarriages, a result of bullying from other stronger and bigger ones, and the stalls have a positive function of protecting them. Lifting regulations is not the answer and therefore should be revised," Kim said.

AAAP is the largest international academic congress in Asia attended by stakeholders of the livestock industry.

At the top of the congress' agenda is the sustainability of livestock farming, coming under threats due to environmental issues such as climate change. The efficient treatment of animal excrement is another key priority.

Korea hosted the event for the third time. The theme of this year's conference was "Animal Production for Human & Nature."