Negros Occidental pig exports dropped by 70 percent in August because of African swine fever (ASF) cases in various local government units of the province, Dr. Placeda Lemana, provincial veterinarian, said Monday, September 11.
Based on their estimates hogs shipped out of Negros Occidental last month were only about 3,000 compared to June and July that were at 10,000, she said.
Lemana attributed the decrease to the non-issuance of Certificates of Free-ASF Status (CFS) to various local government units and backyard farmers in the province.
The Bureau of Animal Industry cannot release the CFS to the local hog raisers because seven LGUs in the province have not been declared ASF-cleared, she said.
CFS is a requirement of the Bureau of Animal Industry for local hog raisers to ship their pigs outside of Negros Island.
Only commercial hog raisers in the province can ship out because they have CFS, Lemana said.
Meanwhile, Lemana said that they have already come up with guidelines for sentineling that will be presented to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson for his approval and implementation.
Sentineling will be applied to those barangays who have recorded zero hog deaths for 40 days to ensure no mortality.
She said that they will require that pigpens should have proper fencing, foot baths, and drainage, and should be negative of ASF and cholera.
The sentineling will start in District 4 of the province since the hog deaths began there, Lemana said.*