THE Murraylands pork industry is under threat from cheaper imported meat.  The Murraylands produces more than 25 per cent of South Australia's pork and Big River Pork is the biggest pig abattoir in Australia.

But Murraylands Regional Development Board chief executive Brenton Lewis said the pig industry had experienced a downturn in recent times.

"There are quite a few producers who have cut back their herd significantly," Mr Lewis said.

A recent Productivity Commission decided it was not necessary to safeguard Australian pork producers against cheaper, good quality imports, which are used for processed pork products.

Australian Pork chief executive officer Andrew Spencer said the industry was imploding because of cheap, imported, frozen pig meat and high grain prices making the industry unviable.

About 70 per cent of the hams, bacon and smallgoods market is sourced from overseas, according to Australian Pork