Negros Occidental is looking to strengthen the breeding capacity of local sows to sustain the province’s swine production amid the dreaded African swine fever (ASF) threat.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said today, January 29, that this is to secure the pig production of the province and so that those exported to other localities will already be surplus supply.
“Our office was directed by the governor (Eugenio Lacson) to propose a herd infusion type – like breeder gilts or piglets to increase our breeder base since there was a decrease of production of sows since 2015,” he said.
He said that Lacson wanted the province to target the 2015 sow production which was 511,000 heads. Right now, the province has 470,979 sows, he added.
The provincial government is set to allocate P5 million to expand the breeder base, he said.
Meanwhile, Decena and the surveillance team of the Provincial ASF Task Force met with Lacson today, January 29, to give him an update of the team’s action plans and accomplishments in the prevention of the entry of ASF in the province.
The governor has directed them to ensure that the province remains ASF-free to protect the livelihood of those in the swine industry.*