BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental has shipped a total of 17,700 heads of live hogs to various areas across the country from April to mid-June this year, records of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) showed.
In a statement, provincial veterinarian Dr. Renante Decena said on Wednesday that the volume may increase in the coming days, based on the trend in the past months.
In May, the province shipped 6,829 heads, including 4,423 heads from commercial raisers and 2,406 heads of backyard swine. In April, records showed that 8,285 heads were shipped. Of which 3,775 heads came from commercial farms and 4,510 heads from backyard farms.
The shipment last month declined due to various weather disturbances affecting the movement of cargo vessels, according to Decena.
He noted that business confidence for commercial and backyard raisers in the province continues to improve as live hog prices increased to P5 per kilogram (kg) from April to May.
The average price was at P137.50 per kg live weight for April while it wasP142.50 per kg in May.
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental transported 2,586 heads to Luzon and Visayas markets during the first half of June.
The lower price of P132.50 per kg live weight was recorded during the first half of this month due to increasing local hog production.
“This shows that there is no significant increase of pork prices in the market affecting local consumers amid the continuous outgoing shipment of hogs by the province,” Decena said.
The PVO chief added that the provincial government is upbeat in having the capacity to accommodate the increasing demands of hog supply in different parts of the country, while ensuring sustainable local supply.(PNA/PN)
