An assessment of pigmeat production prospects from observers whose opinions are rarely heard in public is offered by the results of a recent survey by the National Pig Association. Three dozen companies supplying goods and services to the pig sector split evenly between declaring confidence in eventual recovery and admitting despair at its future. Pigmeat output predictions for the next two years, derived from forecasts of breeding herd contraction, ranged between 15% and 22% lower than in 1998, according to the survey data reported in the NPA/BPE document on the pig crisis published on Monday. {{MEAT }}