BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The recent death of hogs in Cadiz City and Manapla town in Negros Occidental were caused by heat stroke due to the prevailing dry season.
This was confirmed yesterday by Albert Javier, president of the Hog Raisers Association of Negros Occidental (HRANO).
Javier, in an interview over XFM 96.7 Bacolod, said personnel from the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) visited areas where several hogs were reported to have died to get samples.
Laboratory test results showed the hogs died due to heat stroke, while others were noted to have hog cholera, he said.
The condition of the thousands of remaining hogs in the 2nd District remains well, said Javier. Still, authorities in Cadiz City and Sagay City are strictly guarding their respective ports to prevent the entry of pork products from African swine fever-hit Panay Island, and Cebu.
Hog raisers in the province are also cautious since they are currently supplying pork to Metro Manila. An outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in just one area could seriously affect neighboring areas, said Javier.
Earlier, Provincial Veterinary Officer Placeda Lemana advised livestock owners to take precautionary measures against excess heat.
She advised hog farmers to make sure their pens are well-ventilated and to give hogs adequate drinking water and vitamin supplements to prevent heat-related illnesses.
During the Holy Week period alone, the PVO’s anti-ASF taskforce intercepted around P1.3 million worth of pork and pork byproducts, majority of which were at the BREDCO Port in this city.
These were either confiscated or returned to their place of origin as they lacked appropriate shipping documents.
Lemana said they have intercepted a total of 9.52 kilos of pork and 37,680 processed pork items worth P1.2 million.
In one case, the PVO confiscated a whole lechon (roasted pig) from the neighboring Panay Island which recorded cases of ASF.
Negros Occidental, which remains ASF-free, has an ongoing entry ban on pork products from areas affected by the hog disease./PN
