Swine disease hit piggery farms anew
ALAMINOS CITY –While the country is on full alert against the spread of swine flu, a swine killer has plagued this city’s piggery farms.
Piggery farm raisers in two barangays have already suffered losses estimated at P10 million due to swine disease known as the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS).
Consequently, the two hog capital barangays here had been placed under quarantine by the city veterinarian to avert its spread. The good news is the quarantine is set to be lifted on July 8.
Dr. Ronald Abarra, city veterinarian, confirmed that barangays Telbang and Victoria, where swine raising is concentrated, had been severely hit by PRRS since last week of May.
Ninety percent of those affected are backyard piggery owners.
The disease reportedly originated from the farms in neighboring Sual town.
Abarra described the failure of the local government to observe the standard protocol on disease outbreak, as “unfortunate” since the disease could have been easily contained and stopped.
Aggravating the situation for the infected hogs was the stress on the hogs brought about by Tyhoon Emong, further weakening the immune system of the animals, he said.
He suspects that the virus might have been transmitted through direct contact by travelers who trade swine or those into breeding service.
PRRS is characterized by severe reproductive failure in sows, and respiratory disease in young pigs and an influenza-like syndrome in grower finisher.
The city government has launched several programs including swine dispersal, soft loans and introduction of new technology to help mitigate the pig raisers’ woes and enable them to recoup their losses. #
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