Negros Occidental provincial government is strengthening efforts for the breeding of other animals while raisers continue to cope with hog deaths reported in at least 20 of the 31 local government units (LGUs) in the province in the past few months.

Although daily swine mortalities have slowed down to double digits from the initial more than 400 heads, the hog industry has lost more than 17,000 heads to African swine fever, hog cholera and other diseases, with an estimated value of almost P196 million, data released by the Provincial Animal Biosecurity Incident Management Team showed yesterday.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who led the distribution of assistance to poultry and livestock raisers at the Capitol Social Hall on Wednesday, July 19, said the provincial government would stop its swine dispersal program for now.

“In the meantime, the province will not distribute piglets. Let us slow down on that and focus on other animals. Hogs are the most popular but there are also other animals that we would like to propagate,” he told the animal raisers from the Poultry and Livestock Association in Negros Occidental.

Lacson reiterated the province’s vision to produce the Negros Beef, which started with the acquisition last December of nine Angus breeders that have already started to reproduce.

“Gradually, let’s focus on cattle and, of course, carabao, goat. Let us push not only hogs but many other animals,” he added.

As part of the assistance, animal feeds and mineral blocks were given to poultry multiplier farms under the Typhoon “Odette” Rehabilitation Program of the Department of Agriculture 6 (Western Visayas) while veterinary drugs and biologics to support animal health programs and disease prevention were distributed by the Provincial Veterinary Office.

“We thank the support of poultry and livestock raisers in strengthening the food security and the economy of the province,” he added. (PNA)