Dr. Mike Lemmon, a veterinarian and hog breeder in Indiana, lost a $2.4 million deal with a Chinese buyer after Beijing imposed steep tariffs in April. The pedigreed pigs, valued at $2,500–$5,000 each, were supposed to be flown to Hangzhou. Instead, many were sold to a local slaughterhouse for under $200 per head.
Breeding pigs are a niche but lucrative segment of the $37 billion U.S. hog industry. These animals are genetically selected for traits such as large litters and superior meat quality. China had been a key market, especially after African Swine Fever decimated its pig population in 2018.
However, rising trade tensions and unpredictable U.S. policies under the Trump administration have disrupted years of market development. Exporters warn that the damage to the U.S. brand may be long-term, and customers are now turning to foreign suppliers like Denmark.
“We’ve got brand damage now. I don’t know how we can put this back together,” said Tony Clayton, owner of Missouri-based Clayton Agri-Marketing.
The tariffs also halted exports of other livestock genetics, including cattle semen and goat sperm. Jay Weiker, president of the National Association of Animal Breeders, said that China had been importing a quarter of all U.S. cattle semen, but “not one unit” is being shipped now.
Brittany Scott, owner of SMART Reproduction Services, which supplies goat and sheep genetics, echoed the concern. She said multiple international clients backed out of deals after the tariffs, leaving tanks of unsold semen in her Arkansas facility. “It’s been a punch in the gut,” she said.
While there’s hope of reviving some deals during the current pause in tariffs, exporters remain skeptical that trust can be restored quickly.
thepigsite.com