The Negros Occidental provincial government has released biosecurity guidelines for sentineling to help hog raisers ensure an African Swine Fever (ASF) and cholera-free environment for their pigs as pre-sentineling will begin in the first week of October.
The guidelines for sentineling were already signed by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and copies will be given to the Negros Occidental mayors, Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Placeda Lemana said on Wednesday, September 27.
Lemana said that prior to the planned pre-sentineling Provincial Veterinary Office personnel have been going around to slaughterhouses and live auction markets to conduct massive disinfection using lime powder.
The biosecurity guidelines were set by the provincial government to ensure that there will be no second wave of ASF and hog cholera infestation in Neg. Occ. and to help farmers bounce back from the damages it brought to their hog livestock, she said.
After pre-sentineling, which includes disinfection of pigpens for almost 14 days, sentineling, restocking of pigs, and repopulation will occur, Lemana said.
Sentineling will allow the raisers and local veterinary technicians to observe the sentinel animal whether it will catch ASF or hog cholera for a minimum of 40 days.
When the sentinel animal survives, restocking of pigs will be allowed but local technicians will still conduct blood testing of the hogs for ASF.
Lemana is expecting that the repopulation stage might be implemented next year as they need to see to it that the area is clear of ASF and other potential diseases.*