Ontario hog farmers say they're losing thousands of dollars and are worried about being forced to euthanize healthy pigs as they try to stave off bankruptcy without special government aid.

Dozens of farmers — with 50 pigs — gathered at the provincial legislature Friday to protest what they call government inaction in the face of a crisis they say has been growing for years and has been worsened by fears around swine flu.

John Gough, who has a farm in Mount Brydges, says farmers are losing about $50 a pig as they try to feed and raise hogs for slaughter, but adds new farmers are in the most dire straits because they don't qualify for any government aid.

He says people are remortgaging their farms and taking out loans they can't afford to repay — and, unlike auto companies, they can't simply shut down production lines.

Eric Reymer says he will be forced to euthanize 2,000 20-day-old pigs by Monday if he can't find a buyer for the animals because he can't afford to keep them — a move that will cost him roughly $70,000.

Progressive Conservative agriculture critic Ernie Hardeman is accusing Agriculture Minister Leona Dombrowski of taking a holiday when the farming industry is in crisis, noting fears around the H1N1 virus and increasing costs are making it more difficult for many farmers to earn a living.