Controversy erupts over the lower price of hybrid wild boar meat compared to regular pork.

Regular pork prices are soaring and could reach 80,000 VND per kilogram, while pork belly at many markets costs 180,000 - 200,000 VND per kilogram. Meanwhile, domestically raised hybrid wild boar – which is not abundant – is being sold at a lower price.

Ms. Hang, a food supplier in District 8, constantly advertises that she has just received a shipment of 100 kg of pork belly (a hybrid of wild boar and other meat). Each kilogram costs 160,000 VND, and if customers want pre-marinated meat, the price goes up to 180,000 VND. According to her, she receives about four shipments a month, but they always sell out completely.

But there are still places selling it cheaper than Ms. Hang. Ms. Hanh in Thu Duc said she is selling it for 140,000 VND per kilogram, or 150,000 VND if you buy pre-marinated pork. According to her, the pork is sourced from villages in Buon Ma Thuot, so the price is attractive. To ensure safety, she freezes the meat after slaughtering to keep it fresh.

Not only in Ho Chi Minh City, but also in Vung Tau, in mid-October, many vendors were selling it for 100,000 VND per kilogram, with free delivery for customers buying 3-5 kg.

However, in exchange withVnExpressMr. Thao, the owner of a hybrid wild boar farm in Di An, Binh Duong, believes that such a price is impossible for this product.

Because the price of live hybrid wild boar is currently selling at 120,000-140,000 VND per kilogram. Therefore, the price of slaughtered meat must be around 200,000-250,000 VND per kilogram. Furthermore, this year the disease outbreak has increased significantly, and many wild boar farmers have suffered, resulting in a high number of infected pigs and a low survival rate. For those with commercial pigs, the additional costs of quarantine, disease prevention, and breeding make it very difficult to achieve the above prices.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Hoa, the owner of a pig farm in Binh Phuoc, also stated that slaughtered and frozen pork cannot be priced below 200,000 VND per kilogram, especially when the price of live hybrid wild boar is already 135,000 VND per kilogram. He said his farm is running out of stock due to the raging disease outbreak. Furthermore, raising hybrid wild boar is more difficult than raising regular pigs.

"Therefore, to buy quality goods, buyers must thoroughly research the origin to avoid buying low-quality or counterfeit products," Mr. Hoa said.

Market surveys show that live pig prices in the South are 64,000 VND per kilogram, while in the North and Central regions they range from 65,000 to 76,000 VND (depending on the region).

In Ho Chi Minh City, the price of pork belly is usually 168,000-170,000 VND per kg, boneless pork belly is 200,000 VND, pork ribs are 210,000 VND per kg, pork trotters are 110,000 VND per kg, and various types of bones range from 80,000 to 120,000 VND.