ILOILO – The provincial government is planning to start hog repopulation in red zone areas as well as strengthen biosecurity measures, especially on backyard farms, to sustain the local hog industry in the wake of African Swine Fever (ASF) contamination.
“We have to roll with the punches. We have to adjust to the situation. Moving forward when we are fighting for the supply of hog in the province, we also want to strengthen the biosecurity measures of our backyard,” said Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
The governor met with the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) and the provincial and municipal veterinarians on Jan. 6 to discuss how to proceed with the plan.
“We have to think of our supply three months ahead. We have to find a way to breed even with ASF,” he added.
The target is to pilot the municipalities of Oton and San Miguel where the first confirmed ASF cases were recorded.
The idea is to use artificial insemination instead of a boar to prevent possible ASF transmission in areas where there are no more cases, or the hog depopulation is complete.
The governor said in the case of Oton, around 40 percent of its hog population was unaffected.
Data from the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian showed that 2,139 hogs in the municipality died due to suspected ASF as per their Jan. 4 data while as of Dec.14, 2022 they have depopulated 898 swine heads.
In San Miguel, only 158 swine died of suspected ASF as of Jan. 4 while 466 swine heads were depopulated as of Dec. 14.
Defensor said the intention is to gradually replace the lost swine, even for the sake of supplying within the municipalities.
As of Jan. 3, 11 municipalities have already recorded ASF cases and the governor raised the possibility of spreading further.
Of the 11 towns, Oton, San Miguel, Leganes, New Lucena, Alimodian, Santa Barbara, Mina, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, and Banate are still under the red or infected zone, while Barotac Viejo remains in pink or buffer zone. (PNA)/PN
