Batangas Provincial Veterinary Office (ProVet) distributed ‘sentinel’ pigs in an effort to curb African Swine Fever (ASF) and encourage hog farmers to repopulate.
Batangas hog farmers get pigs
BATANGAS – The Batangas provincial government, led by the Provincial Veterinary Office (ProVet), continues to implement the “sentinel and repopulation” program by distributing piglets to hog farmers in areas in the province affected by African Swine Fever (ASF).
In collaboration with the Department of Agriculture-Region 4A (DA-4A), the project aims to give a fresh start to pig farmers and “prove” that there are no more infectious diseases in the towns and cities of the province.
The project has already reached the towns of Lobo, Ibaan, San Jose, San Luis, San Nicolas, Nasugbu, Tuy, Malvar, San Juan, and Batangas City.
According to an interview with Dr. Annierica Lajarca Cascalla, Veterinarian IV of ProVet, these sentinel pigs are distributed to hog farmers to observe and ensure that the areas are negative for ASF and other infectious diseases and that pig breeding can be resumed.
As many as 320 piglets were distributed on June 21 at the Provincial Veterinary Office – the third time sentinel pigs have been distributed in the province.
It is expected that by the end of the program, the hog repopulation in Batangas will resume again, and the supply of pork sold in the market will be increased.
The assistance to hog producers is also part of the provincial government’s program, led by Gov. Dodo Mandanas, to further increase agricultural production in the province.
