Amid an unrelenting heatwave, this photo shows the inside of a laying hen farm in Yeongchun-myeon, Danyang County, North Chungcheong Province, on the afternoon of July 9. (Photo provided by a reader)
UIJEONGBU, South Korea, July 30 (Korea Bizwire) – As South Korea endures an unrelenting heatwave with temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius, over 81,000 chickens and pigs have died in Gyeonggi Province alone between July 11 and 25, according to local government data released Wednesday.
The fatalities began mounting shortly after heat advisories were issued across the region. On July 11, more than 1,000 chickens perished at a poultry farm in Yongin, followed by 50 pigs at a farm in Yeoju the next day.
Over the subsequent two weeks, 73,584 chickens across 53 farms and 2,210 pigs across 196 farms succumbed to heat stress in 14 cities and counties across the province.
The densely confined conditions in which poultry are raised made chickens especially vulnerable. Experts say chickens are highly susceptible to heat stress, which not only raises mortality rates but also reduces egg production and weakens immune systems, increasing the risk of disease—especially concerning amid lingering threats of avian influenza.
Cattle cool off under a spray of water from a farmer in the city of Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, on July 30, 2025, amid extreme heat waves. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Farmers are fighting to protect their livestock using all available means, from industrial fans and air conditioning to spraying water on rooftops to cool facilities. “Even pigs are panting and lying down from exhaustion,” said one farmer in Yeoju raising about 600 pigs. “Feed consumption has dropped 20 to 30 percent, and some animals are developing enteritis.”
Local authorities have urged livestock operators to enhance ventilation, maintain steady supplies of fresh water and feed, and use immune-boosting supplements. Biosecurity measures, including disinfection and access control, remain critical, especially for poultry operations.
To mitigate damage, Gyeonggi Province allocated 660 million won (~$510,000) earlier this year to supply 66 tons of immune-enhancing supplements and upgrade facilities with ventilation fans and sunshades at 755 livestock farms.
“Agricultural operators should repair ventilation systems urgently and prepare backup generators in case of power outages,” a provincial official advised, adding that enrolling in livestock disaster insurance is also recommended to ease recovery efforts.
With no immediate relief in sight from the extreme weather, the heatwave is not only straining South Korea’s livestock industry but also threatening broader food supply chains and farm livelihoods.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
