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DA allots initial P15-M to feed gestating sows for repopulation

By Liza Agoot

April 20, 2021, 1:39 pm

<p><em>(Photo taken form DA Facebook page) </em></p>

(Photo taken form DA Facebook page) 

BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) has allotted an initial PHP15 million for the purchase of feeds that will be given to swine growers who have pregnant sows as part of the pig repopulation program in the region.

Dr. Cameron Odsey, DA-CAR regional director, on Tuesday, said they have started with the pig repopulation program for the region with the identification of pregnant sow that will be supported and fed to assure that they will give birth to piglets which are African swine fever (ASF)-free.

A sow has a pregnancy period of three months, three weeks, and three days or from 111 to 120 days.

“We have started looking for the pregnant female pigs or breeders that we will support by providing the feeds to the owners so that they will not have a problem feeding the animals,” he said.

Odsey said assuring that the pregnant sow will be fed properly with the correct food that is not ASF-infected will assure that it will reach its full pregnancy stage and give birth to healthy piglets.

He said the scheme is an existing activity under the livestock program of the DA-CAR for the Special Assistance for Agricultural Development (SAAD) which they are expanding to form part of the region’s pig repopulation effort.

Under the scheme, the pig-food assistance will be received by the owners of the sow (pregnant female pigs or breeders) on condition that upon giving birth, the owner will sell the female piglets to the DA-CAR, he said.

“The piglets will again be distributed by the agency to those in the village who want to go into swine production and piglet production,” Odsey said.

He said only female piglets will be bought by the agency while the male piglets can be used as fatteners or grown by the owner for meat production or sell them to others who want to grow fatteners.

He said they earlier thought of buying piglets from commercial piglet producers but the risk of contamination during transport posed a problem.

Odsey added the agency had to devise means to commence the repopulation of piglets while simultaneously assuring that they do not introduce ASF in the Cordillera.

The officer mentioned that those identified to have been infected with ASF have already been cleared as shown by the result of the sentinel pigs which are used as “test pigs” by swine growers who were affected by the ASF in the past.

Benguet, which was greatly affected by ASF, received 50 piglets as sentinel pigs sometime in the third quarter of 2020. “They are okay, not one of the sentinel pigs got sick in a period of six months so they have resumed growing,” he said.

Odsey said there are no sources of clean piglets and if there are big ones outside the region, the problem of the pigs acquiring ASF or if they have it, leaving the virus along the way will be a high possibility, which the DA would like to avoid.

“That will be slowly, hindi kasi biglaan yun (that will not be abrupt). At least if you start at the barangay and you meet the required supply needs then proceed to the municipality then soon, there will be a sufficient supply of pigs,” Odsey said.

He shared that due to the current shortage in pigs, piglet prices in the region have skyrocketed reaching as high as PHP5,000 per head.

Odsey said Cordillera people have a high demand for pigs especially the black-skinned which is required for offering during the observance of the traditional practices of meat-eating Cordillerans. (PNA

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