Local agricultural authorities here are strongly urging livestock raisers to heighten their farm biosecurity measures following recent reports of sick and dying pigs in three barangays.

During a joint meeting of the Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC) and the Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) last week, Peter Ticag, Municipal Agriculturist, stresses the urgent need for strict preventive actions. He briefed barangay officials in attendance so they could immediately inform their constituents and prevent any potential animal disease from spreading further in the community.

The municipal agriculture office first received a report regarding dying pigs in Barangay Ambassing on June 8. In the days that followed, similar cases were reported in neighboring Barangay Dagdag and Barangay Demang. According to OMAG, the affected pigs showed identical symptoms, primarily lethargy (pananamlay/agsasadot) and a sudden loss of appetite (walang ganang kumain/nagkapsot a mangan).

To address the threat, the local government has distributed disinfectants to the affected barangays to assist farmers with their cleanup and biosecurity efforts.

While fears of African Swine Fever (ASF) have emerged, Municipal Agriculturist II Novie Galgala clarified that field personnel have been conducting rapid test kits on the sick livestock. These on-site kits screen for three major swine diseases: African Swine Fever (ASF), Classical Swine Fever (CSF/Hog Cholera), and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS). The tests generally came back negative, except for a single case that showed an unclear, “very slightly positive” result of ASF that fluctuated during testing.

Ms Galgala clarified that only the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) is the lone authority to declare a positive case for any major swine illness. She added that the clinical symptoms observed in most of the monitored pigs do not match the aggressive signs of ASF, such as high fevers, nosebleeds, or distinct skin rashes.

OMAG emphasized that there is currently no confirmed outbreak of a specific disease, and they are actively monitoring all types of swine illnesses. Records show that Sagada last experienced positive cases of ASF during the pandemic from 2021 to 2022, and has remained ASF-free since 2023.

However, the office noted that they have only officially recorded one pig death because many worried hog raisers are preemptively slaughtering their sick pigs before they die to avoid total financial losses.

In light of this, OMAG strongly advises all livestock owners to strictly implement biosecurity measures at all times, even if their animals appear perfectly healthy. Authorities outlined the following critical guidelines for local farmers:

Proper Disinfection: Clean pig pens regularly using laundry soapy water, or create a disinfectant solution by mixing liquid chlorine bleach with water.

Stop Swill Feeding: Do not feed pigs with swill (kanin-baboy/arasaw), especially leftovers brought in from other communities, or kitchen wastes that contain oil, grease, and spoiled food.

Personal Hygiene: Always change into clean clothes and footwear before entering the pig pens, especially after traveling, to avoid bringing external bacteria into the facility.

No Selling of Sick Meat: Farmers are strictly forbidden from selling the meat of sick pigs that have been slaughtered.

Immediate Burial: If a pig dies of illness, it must be buried underground immediately and should never be butchered or processed for food.

The local government has intensified its public appeal, reminding the community that cooperation and strict adherence to these preventive protocols are the best ways to protect the local livelihood and treat the ongoing issues. Residents are urged to closely monitor their livestock and immediately report any animals showing a loss of appetite or weakness to the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist.