A base study of the impact of EU membership on swine production in the Maltese islands

Abstract

The breeding and rearing of pigs for meat production has long been an integral part of the fabric of Maltese agricultural activity. Indeed, it can be safely said that historical and archaeological evidence testily to the highly successful productive performance of pigs in the hands of Maltese stockpersons - both ancient and contemporary. The impulse that propelled me to carry out this study originated from my extensive and intensive involvement in this industry between 1980 and 1998 riming which time I had the opportunity to observe at close range the way this industry operated since I was involved in the management of the Pig Breeding Station at Comino and in the distribution of new breeding stock to the re-commissioned pig farms following the outbreak of African Swine Fever in 1978.