HThe City Veterinarian’s Office (CVO), in coordination with the Regional Office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) is conducting a livestock repopulation program of farm hogs here through the distribution of piglets to Dabawenyo hog farmers.
CVO Head Dr. Cerelyn Pinili told the City Information Office (CIO) that a total of 346 swine heads and 1,384 sacks of feeds had been distributed to hog farmers and a hog raiser cooperative in the city from June 28 to July 1, 2022.
In Barangay Dominga Calinan, 74 hog farmers received 128 piglets and 592 sacks of feeds; a total of 98 piglets and 392 sacks of feeds were given to 49 pig farmers in Barangay Magsaysay, Marilog District; and 24 hog farmers in Barangay Colosas, Paquibato also received 50 hogs and 200 sacks of feeds.
The city also gave 50 piglets and 200 sacks of feeds to a hog raiser cooperative in Buhangin.
Pinili said all beneficiaries are hog farmers, whose livelihood suffered from the ASF. Each farmer received 2 piglets and 8 sacks of feeds.
She added that the farmers can sell or keep the hogs for breeding after the CVO made sure they are ASF-negative within 40 days of raising them.
“They will raise the hogs and after 40 days, we will take blood samples. Then, if the results are negative, they can keep raising the pigs since they are already given by the Department of Agriculture so they can once again resume hog raising in the area,” Pinili said.
Pinili further said that a similar effort had been conducted in Calinan, which was the epicenter of the ASF infections in the city last year. “We have distributed 300 heads in Calinan last year. They have a choice whether to sell those that reach 80-100 kilograms or they make them breeders,” she said.
The livestock repopulation program aims to lend assistance to the city’s livestock farmers affected by the ASF while also gearing towards the overarching goal of food security.
Contributed Photo