ANTIQUE – Hog raisers in the province are advised to keep their animals free from stress caused by extreme heat.
Dr. Marco Rafael Ardamil of the Antique Provincial Veterinary (ProVet) said pig pens should have open ventilation and be managed well.
“Pneumonia is a common disease among hogs when they are stressed and have a low immune system,” he said.
Ardamil said the two hog mortalities reported in Tobias Fornier town on April 24, initially suspected cases of African swine fever (ASF), turned out to be pneumonia.
“The mayor of Tobias Fornier was quick to come up with an Executive Order to prevent movement of the hogs in their municipality within 14 days to prevent the spread of the disease,” he said.
Antique remains ASF-free, Ardamil confirmed, “but we advise hog raisers given the weather conditions now to do necessary interventions to prevent their hogs from getting sick of other diseases,”
The Bantay sa Barangay African swine fever (Babay ASF) program in the province has been in place to ensure that Antique remains free from the disease.
The Babay ASF Program under Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 7 in 2021 provides guidelines for intensifying the government’s response against ASF, with national government agencies and other sectors providing technical and support services for local government units to carry out interventions at the farm and community levels. (PNA)/PN
