The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) said the imposition of the months-long lockdown has also helped prevent the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in the country, as cases declined to 20 per million pigs.
In a recent virtual press briefing, BAI Director Ronnie D. Domingo said the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) implemented by the government to contain the spread of Covid-19 had prevented more ASF outbreaks.
“ASF spreads because of the movement of sick pigs. But because of ECQ our cases declined. Before ECQ we are recording 60 cases per million pigs but after ECQ we are down to just 20 cases per million pigs,” Domingo said.
Domingo said the country has so far experienced two waves of ASF outbreaks: the first was from September to October, following the confirmation of the dreaded disease and the second happened in January to February.
The second wave was caused by the Christmas break, when Filipinos could have brought back to their provinces ASF-infected meat products.
The dreaded ASF has spread to eight regions in the country, affecting hog farms in 224 cities in 25 provinces. According to Domingo, Central Luzon was the hardest hit among the affected regions.
Central Luzon is the top hog-producing region in the country followed by Calabarzon. The two regions account for a combined volume of 813,293 metric tons (MT), which is 35 percent of the country’s nearly 2.3 million MT (MMT) output last year.
The spread of the fatal hog disease, which is not harmful to humans, has resulted in the culling of about 298,844 pigs, as a measure to contain its spread, Domingo added.
The BAI chief said only about 15 percent to 20 percent of the culled pigs are infected with ASF.
The total death count of pigs due to ASF eradication measures translates to around 3 percent of the country’s total pig population pegged at 12 million heads.
The devastation caused by the ASF on the country’s hog industry has been the culprit behind the spike in the retail prices of pork which reached as high as P280 per kilogram.
Latest Department of Agriculture (DA) price monitoring report showed that pork (kasim) prices in Metro Manila wet markets as of June 18 averaged P250 per kg while pork (liempo) was sold at P270 per kg.
Pork kasim prices a month ago were only at P200 per kg. Three months ago, pork kasim was at P190 per kg, according to DA data.
The DA earlier said it is spending P400 million for its hog restocking program in two key-producing regions to boost local pork supply as the industry copes with the impact of ASF.
The DA announced that it has mobilized P400 million for its hog restocking program in Central Luzon and Calabarzon, with each region receiving P200 million.
The DA will distribute free piglets to hog raisers, with members of community cooperatives being the priority beneficiaries, in non-ASF areas in the two regions.
Image credits: Bloomberg News