BACOLOD City – Hog mortalities in Negros Occidental continue to decline but prices of live weight hogs are still increasing.
Live weight hogs are currently priced between P150 and P160 per kilo while market prices are between P240 and P260 per kilo, according to Ric Lauron, president of the Alliance of Hog Raisers Association Negros Occidental (AHRANO).
Lauron, in a radio interview yesterday morning, added that hog raisers are gradually seeing the drop in hog mortalities brought by various diseases such as hog cholera and African Swine Fever, but they are anticipating a potential pork shortage towards the end of 2023.
Earlier this month, Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) head Dr. Placeda Lemana said they were expecting a high demand for pork in the coming months, particularly in December.
She thus urged hog raisers to temporarily halt supplying pork to traders outside of the province in preparation for the anticipated high demand and to rein in any sudden price increases.
Lauron also supports the PVO’s call for a temporary halt in pork exports, adding that priority should be given first to local hog sellers to avoid potential pork shortage in the province. (Watchmen Daily Journal)/PN
