Philippine Hog News:

[mikey]

Thursday, March 05, 2009Print This Page
Workers Culling Pigs Complain of Headaches
PHILIPPINES - Authorities will try to complete the culling of 6,000 pigs infected with Ebola-Reston virus at a Pandi, Bulacan piggery by Friday.



As of Wednesday - day 4 of the culling - a total of 4,741 pigs were culled, reports ABS-CBN News.

"We hope to finish it by tomorrow [Friday]," said Dr Eldrin Morales of Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), who is also the field commander at the culling operations.

"We just can't compare yesterday's operation with this morning's because the ones that were culled yesterday were piglets," said Dr. Morales.

The Depopulation Committee also clarified that the dizziness and headaches workers are experiencing are not related to the exposure of Ebola-infected pigs.

If the culling is finished by Friday, disinfection on the infected farm can begin by weekend.

"We're looking at the possibility of sending a different set of team for the disinfection," said Dr. Morales.

Workers Getting Aid from Bulacan Government
Bulacan Governor Jonjon Mendoza inspected the culling of Ebola Reston-virus infected pigs in the province.

According to the news agency, he also checked the condition of workers affected by the temporary closure of the hog farm.

Aside from rice and groceries, the local government has given the more than 30 workers, P10,000 livelihood assistance as well as scholarships for their children.

Mr Mendoza also continues to assure consumers that pork from other farms in Pandi, Bulacan are safe since hogs from only one hog farm were infected with the virus.

[mikey]

Friday, March 06, 2009Print This Page
'Double Dead' Pork Seized in Balintawak
PHILIPPINES - The National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) on Thursday seized a ton of "double dead" pork in a surprise inspection at a public market in Quezon City.



Inspectors of the NMIS found several batches of rancid meat, popularly called "botcha," concealed inside plastic bags and weaved baskets while others were being sold in cartons along sidewalks near MC Market in Balintawak.

ABS-CBN News reports that the meat inspectors also seized 60 kilograms of India buffalo meat.

Last week, the NMIS seized 3,000 kilos of rotten pork meat at the public market.

NMIS authorities said the rotten pork, which may have been carved from sick pigs, are discolored, cold, and was being sold at almost P50 lower than the regular market price.

The meat also did not have an NMIS seal, making it unfit for consumption. Indian buffalo meat, meanwhile, is supposedly banned from the market because cow slaughter is illegal in India.

Dr. Eduardo Oblena, NMIS officer-in-charge, said the rotten meat would cause several diseases if eaten.

Dr. Oblena also urged the local government to exert more effort in curbing the rampant sale of 'hot meat' in several markets, especially in Balintawak.

The confiscated meat, meanwhile, will be buried to prevent further sale.

Under the Consumer Act of the Philippines, the illegal sale of unsafe products like double-dead meat has a corresponding penalty of P1,000 to P10,000 and not less than six months but not more than five years of imprisonment

[mikey]

 
Philippines to keep tariff quota for US pork
[6 March 2009] The Philippine government has been forced to take back its threat to severely restrict pork imports by denying permits to legitimate pork importers after US pork producers, through the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), requested the Office of the US Trade representative to remove the Philippines from the US Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). Under the GSP, designed to provide developing countries like the Philippines with preferential duty access to the US market, the Philippines was able to export USD 1.1 billion of goods to the US. The NPPC said the Philippine decision to maintain its current tariff rate quota administration rules preserves a growing market for US pork exports. In 2008, US pork imports to the Philippines grew 360% to 25,300 tonnes valued at USD 46 million. 
 
 
 

[mikey]

Monday, March 09, 2009Print This Page
Culling of Ebola-infected Pigs Comes to an End
PHILIPPINES - The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) on Saturday started disinfecting a hog farm in Pandi town, Bulacan province, after completing the culling of more than 6,000 pigs infected with the Ebola Reston virus.



BAI Director Davino Catbagan said a total of 6,210 infected pigs were culled in the six operational days, which started last Sunday. The depopulation in the Pandi farm was declared complete at 8:15 p.m. Friday, according to ABS-CBN News.

"Cleaning and disinfection of the farm premises will start Saturday," Mr Catbagan said, adding that the disinfection process will last for another week.

Officials said the hog farm's operation will resume three to six months after the disinfection.

Mr Catbagan said after the disinfection, the BAI and the Department of Health (DOH) will move to other farms around Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog to make sure pigs in the regions are also safe from the Ebola Reston virus.

After the Pandi hog farm, we will check other hog farms and backyard farms," he said.

Dr Eric Tayag, DOH spokesman and chief of the National Epidemiology Center, said the six hog farm workers in Pandi who have tested positive for the Ebola Reston virus would have to be closely monitored for the next 21 days.

Dr Tayag said the infected farm workers have been advised to regularly check their body temperatures during the monitoring. He said the farm workers remained healthy.

The DOH, meanwhile, advised that the government has not lifted the voluntary ban on the exporting of pork products to other countries.

It, however, clarified that it is still safe to eat pork.

[mikey]

 News
rssPhilippine AI swine disease check initiated 06 Mar 2009
The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) is to establish a registration and accreditation system for artificial insemination (AI) centres and providers to prevent the spreading of swine diseases such as the Ebola Reston virus.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap directed the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), an attached agency of the DA, to formulate the registration and accreditation system in consultation with stakeholders.

“Based on scientific studies, Ebola Reston and the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome can be transmitted through unchecked, uncertified semen and poor AI techniques,” said Yap in a memorandum.

PRRS & Ebola Reston
Yap noted the decision to have a registration and accreditation system for AI centres and providers was made after the losses caused by a typical PRRS and the detection of the Ebola Reston virus in pigs in farms in Pangasinan and Bulacan.

AI, a technology that promotes genetic improvement among pigs, is accepted in many areas of the country and has contributed to the growth of the swine industry. “While recognising its importance in genetic improvement, AI’s role on disease transmission should also be reviewed in the light of emerging swine diseases,” said Yap.
 

[mikey]

Wednesday, March 11, 2009Print This Page
Contaminated Pork Seized in Angeles City
PHILIPPINES - Some 70 kilos of pork meat believed contaminated with hog cholera disease were seized by personnel from the city veterinary office before it was sold to the public, authorities said.



The owner of the "hot" meat was not mentioned in the report, but veterinary officials immediately separated the contaminated meat from the rest of newly-slaughtered hogs to avoid spread of the disease.

ABS-CBN News reports that Rolando Espino, meat inspector ll, initially discovered the contaminated meat at the slaughter house. He noticed red dots on the hog skin that prompoted him to call the attention of his superior.

Mr Espino said a resident veterinarian found out that the meat is afflicted with hog cholera disease and prevented it from being delivered to the public market to protect consumers.

The veterinary office also recommended the burning of the seized meat. It warned hog dealers to examine livestock being brought to slaughter house to avoid similar incident.

Mr Espino urged the public to immediately report the sale of infected meat.

[mikey]

Friday, March 13, 2009Print This Page
Zamboanga Pigs Die of Swine Flu Virus
PHILIPPINES - The death of a dozen pigs last week in barangay Vitali, 72 kilometers east of this city, was caused by mainly swine flu and not the Ebola Reston virus as earlier feared by people in the city.



This were the findings of a team of experts from the Department of Agriculture (DA), city veterinarian and city health offices that went to Vitali and conducted an on-site investigation, according to Filipino news agency BusinessMirror.

Apart from swine flu, other possible causes of the death were Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), Classical Swine Fever, Actinobacillus Pleuropneumoniae, Salmonellosism Enzootic and Heat Stroke, said Dr Mario Ariola, chief of the city veterinarian office.

DA regional director Oscar Parawan and veterinarian Dr. Marie France Jalao, of the DA regional office that was part of the team, corroborated Ariola’s pronouncement.

Mr Parawan said swine flu is a common disease in hogs that requires proper medication to prevent complications from bacteria that lead to the death of the pigs. He said they also discovered that water in Vitali where the pigs died contains E. coli that can complicate infection when mixed with food eaten by hogs.

City health officer Dr Rodel Agbulos also disclosed that the five-year-old child who died at same time as the pigs suffered severe dehydration caused by infectious diarrhea, and not from eating pork infected by the virus as earlier feared by people in the city.

The team also found out that the owner of the swine that died had sold the meat to the community and this caused diarrhea and other symptoms of one family and eventually led to the death of one child.

Dr Agbulos said other findings showed that the water source of the family has high E. coli content that might have also led to diarrhea and severe dehydration.

Dr Ariola said the pigs that died belong to three households. The pigs were not vaccinated and consequently exhibited nasal discharges, fever, sudden weakness and death within two days.

Seven of the 12 pigs that died are piglets and five sows of which three were pregnant, according to Dr Ariola.

The team has come up with recommendations to double-check these findings since the members have not been able to come up with a definitive diagnosis.

The recommendations include continuous close monitoring of the situation in the affected areas; collection of blood and tissue samples of sick pigs; information and education campaign on swine management; advisory on meat-safety consumption; and intensified meat-inspection measures.

“We cannot come up with a definitive diagnosis since we were not able to observe any sick pigs in the visited areas and necropsy was not performed,” Dr Ariola disclosed.

Mr Parawan said they expect to receive any time soon the results of analysis of blood samples taken from the pigs in Vitali and sent to Manila for laboratory tests.

[mikey]

Friday, March 13, 2009Print This Page
Bulacan Officials Feast on Ebola Reston-free Pigs
PHILIPINES - After clearing a hog farm in Bulacan province of Ebola Reston-infected pigs, local officials recently gathered and dug into virus-free roasted pigs.



The Bulacan provincial government said "It’s fiesta time!" in Pandi town after the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) finished culling thousands of pigs that were found infected with the potent Ebola Reston virus.

After the BAI's announcement of the culling’s completion last Friday, Bulacan Governor Joselito Mendoza prepared several roasted pigs for the members of the province's peace and order council.

Mr Mendoza, joined by the chief executives of Pandit, Pulilan and Plaridel town, local police officials and health officials, including Dr. Eric Tayag of the National Epidemiology Center, dug into crispy, juicy roasted hogs after the peace and order council.

The Bulacan government said the roasted pig feast is a sort of thanksgiving after the clearing of a Pandi pig farm, which was affected by the virus.

A total of 6,210 infected pigs were slaughtered by the BAI in a week-long culling operation at the Pandi hog farm, reports ABS-CBN News.

BAI Director Davino Catbagan said the bureau and the Department of Health immediately started "disinfecting" the hog farm last Saturday. The disinfection will last for another week, he said.

Officials said the hog farm's operation will resume three to six months after the disinfection.

Mr Catbagan said the BAI and the Department of Health (DOH) will move to other farms around Bulacan, Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog to make sure pigs in the areas are also safe from the Ebola Reston virus.

[mikey]

Deodorize Pig Manure With Fedgrozyme
The neighbors of Hipolito “Jun” F. Saoyao of Linapaw; Tubao, La Union used to complain about the obnoxious odor of the manure of his pigs. But he was helpless as he did not know vet how to eliminate the foul odor, and was convinced that it was inevitable in swine production.

In a seminar on livestock production and management, however, this 54-year-old farmer, municipal councilor and chairman of the Agriculture Committee of the Tubao Sangguniang Bayan has learned from Dr. Jovita Datum, a livestock expert and head of the Ilocos Integrated Agriculture Research Center, that the offensive odor of swine manure could be eliminated by adding an enzyme-based solution called Fedgrozyme to the feeds.

Fedgrozyme is developed by Berlin trained industrial microbiologist Dr. Ronaldo A. Sumaoang, who is also the president and CEO of the Novatech Group of Companies. It is manufactured by Novatech Vet and Biologicals, which also produces other veterinary and biological products.

According to Dr. Sumaoang, Fedgrozyme eliminates the odor of the manure by lessening the ammonia emitted by the manure. Likewise, the protein that is still present in the manure continues to be degraded by Fedgrozyme microbial activity. Fedgrozyme is actually a stabilized source of potent enzyme of microbial origin for animal use, Dr. Sumaoang adds. It contains immobilized biological microorganisms, organic acids, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, phospholipids, and UGF.

Jun said that during the seminar Dr. Datum also introduced the use of Biosec as a very effective method of turning animal waste into organic fertilizer.

Most of the participants of the seminar, however, could hardly believe Dr. Datum’s pronouncements, according to Jun. Yet, he wanted to deodorize the manure of his swine so his neighbors would no longer say something against him and at the same time, make money by selling organic fertilizer from the decomposed pig’s manure. Hence, hc bought 5 kg of Fedgrozyme and 1 kg of Biosec.

He was eager to tell his wife about Fedgrozyme and Biosec, but when she had heard of it, she had concluded that these would just be an additional expense.

After three days his wife “was already singing a different tune” for the obnoxious odor of the manure was gone. And when they started to sell the first bag of organic fertilizer from the decomposed pig manure, his wife became more enthusiastic and started to gather the manure herself whenever he had other matters to attend to.

“That is how effective Fedgrozyme is in eliminating the foul odor of the manure,” Jun said.

For swine pre-starters and starters, he mixes 1.5 kg of Fedgrozyme per ton of feeds. For older pigs, he mixes only 1 kg of Fedgrozyme per ton of feeds.

He has observed that pigs given feeds mixed with Fedgrozyme grow faster and are heavier. The pig’s feed conversion ratio (FCR) has improved by 8 percent to 10 percent, and average daily gain has increased by 4.5 percent. Litter size has also improved. He adds that the market vendor who buys his fatteners has told him that their back fat is not thick, and this is the kind of pork that consumers prefer.

Marianito Garinggo, a police officer in Tubao proper, is also very pleased with the effects of Fedgrozyme.

His piggery is practically a stone’s throw away from the municipal building so he was told to do something about the foul odor of his farm or else he would be forced to close it. Worse, he was throwing his pigs’ manure to the irrigation system, making the environmental condition more unpleasant for the municipal employees and his neighbors.

When the municipal sanitary inspector heard of the improved environmental condition in Jun’s farm, he told Marianito to consult Jun. And right away, Jun sold Marianito 1 kg of Fedgrozyme and, presto, his problem was solved. After a week, he bought 1 kg again, and in two months he had already bought 4 kg.

Fedgrozyme is used also in the farm of Tubao Mayor Noemi Balloquing. Her caretaker, Jovito Bualan, has started to use it last July and much has improved since then. For one thing, he said, the foul odor is gone. And for another, the pigs become healthier unlike in the past when they were afflicted by diseases. Mayor Balloquing is, of course, very satisfied with the performance of her pigs.

So try using Fedgrozyme, and you’ll find that your neighbors have nothing anymore to say against you.

[mikey]

Monday, March 16, 2009Print This Page
More Spoiled Pig Meat Seized in Balintawak
PHILIPPINES - Authorities seized more than 200 kilos of spoiled "double dead" meat at the MC Market in Balintawak, Quezon City Monday.



Police said they discovered the spoiled meat inside a red Nissan pick-up (TEA-858) parked outside the market past 1 a.m. They said they towed the vehicle to Quezon City Police District Station 1 where they will await the owner.

Under the Consumer Act of the Philippines, the illegal sale of unsafe products like double-dead meat has a corresponding penalty of P1,000 to P10,000 and not less than six months but not more than five years of imprisonment

On 5 March, the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) seized a ton of "double dead" pork in a surprise inspection in the same public market in Balintawak, reports ABS-CBN News. NMIS inspectors found several batches of rancid meat, popularly called "botcha," concealed inside plastic bags and weaved baskets inside MC Market.

The meat inspectors also seized 60 kilograms of India buffalo meat.

NMIS authorities said the rotten pork, which may have been carved from sick pigs, are discolored, cold, and was being sold at almost P50 lower than the regular market price.

The meat also did not have an NMIS seal, making it unfit for consumption. India buffalo meat, meanwhile, is supposedly banned from the market because cow slaughter is illegal in India.

An NMIS official said the rotten meat would cause several diseases if eaten.

Officials of NMIS, the Bureau of Animal Industry and local government units earlier said it will target the sources of hot meat to protect consumers.

[mikey]

Monday, March 16, 2009Print This Page
Philippines Puts More Hog Farms under Surveillance
PHILIPPINES - A Philippine animal industry official said on Friday that thousands of backyard hog farms were under surveillance in an attempt to protect the livestock sector from the Ebola-Reston virus, which was found to linger in the country's swine population.


Philippine Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Director Davinio Catbagan said the surveillance work and testing will involve some 30,000 pigs in backyard piggeries in parts of the major Luzon island, home to at least three million pigs.

Last week, Philippine agriculture authorities culled 6,000 hogs in a farm in Bulacan province north of the national capital Metro Manila.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said that they decided to cull these pigs as test results done by various local and international agencies reveal that viral transmission continues to exist in this farm. Blood samples collected from humans and pigs in this farm tested positive for Ebola-Reston virus, the strain that has yet to cause serious diseases to the human.

The WHO (World Health Organization) classified the incident as "posing low public health risk" in its assessment earlier this year.

Mr Catbagan said Secretary Yap will ask the US government to ensure the supply of the test kits for the sampling of the 30,000 pigs covered by the surveillance work.

A joint mission comprised of Food and Agricultural Organization, the World Animal Health Organization (OIE), the WHO and their local counterparts came to the Philippines after the world's first case of Ebola-Reston on hogs was detected last October here.

[mikey]

KORONADAL CITY — A team from North Cotabato flew to Thailand recently in a bid to penetrate the foreign meat market through major Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group.

North Cotabato Vice Governor Emmanuel F. Piñol led the team that left for Bangkok to meet with top officials of Charoen Pokphand, which has interest in agribusiness, retail, and telecommunication industries.

“CP [Charoen Pokhand] is looking for chicken and hog meat suppliers, and we are offering the province as a source for their needs. We do not only have the capability to produce the hogs but even the raw materials needed for feeds which is essential to the production of export quality hog meat,” Piñol said in a statement.

North Cotabato’s intention to foray in the foreign pork market came as Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap ordered the killing of some 6,000 hogs in Bulacan province in Luzon. The hogs were believed to have been infected with the Ebola reston virus. North Cotabato is an estimated 560 miles south of Bulacan.

The country, through Mindanao, was set to have its pilot foreign pork shipment last December to Singapore but stopped after the discovery of the Ebola reston virus in Luzon.

Piñol appeared optimistic on the foreign prospects of the province’s swine industry despite the presence of the Ebola reston virus in the country.

“This is a very big opportunity for us in our effort to continuously provide better income opportunities for our people in the province,” Piñol said, hoping positive results in the meeting with Charoen Pokhand officials.

Also earlier, the agriculture department in Central Mindanao confirmed the outbreak of hog cholera in three North Cotabato towns that have been quarantined to last until late in March.

The invitation to Bangkok came through the Land Bank of the Philippines, which is considering the implementation of an ongoing concept called “Integrated Piggery and Poultry Project for Exports in North Cotabato.”

Source: Sun Star

[mikey]

Monday, March 23, 2009Print This Page
Producers Seek to Postpone Free Trade
PHILIPPINES - Poultry and pig farmers want the start of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) to be postponed in the light of the current global economic situation.



The Philippines is reportedly pushing for the delay of the full implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) in light of the current global economic recession, according to Philippines Star.

Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila has been talking to his ASEAN counterparts about delaying the full implementation of the AFTA by January 2010.

As agreed under AFTA, the Philippines and its ASEAN partners must bring down to between zero and five percent all tariff covers.

While most of the other ASEAN signatories to the AFTA are reportedly receptive to the delay, Singapore is opposed to any change in the timetable and is supposedly pushing for the implementation of the agreement as scheduled.

Unfortunately for the Philippines, several industries in the agriculture sector are still not ready for competition.

According to Gregorio San Diego of the United Broilers and Raisers Association (UBRA) and Albert Lim of the National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. (NFHFI), the poultry, egg and hog industries, as well as the rice sector, are still not ready for the full implementation of AFTA by January 2010.

In an interview with The Star, Mr San Diego and Mr Lim expressed their joint concern about the fast approaching implementation of AFTA in 10 months.

Mr San Diego said that the poultry and egg sector is asking President Arroyo to take action now and declare a 'moratorium' on the implementation of the AFTA agreement.

He added that the Philippine poultry and egg sector cannot still effectively complete against Thailand and Malaysia, which are major exporters of poultry. The Philippine poultry and egg sectors should be placed in the sensitive list along with rice, he said.

He explained to The Star that, while Malaysia and Thailand may still be affected by the bird flu virus, they would eventually recover and the Philippines would be swamped with Thai and Malaysian poultry and egg exports.

[mikey]

Friday, March 27, 2009Print This Page
Hog Cholera Behind Death of Zamboanga Pigs
PHILIPPINES - Its official: the swine industry of the Filipino southern port city is free from the Ebola Reston virus.



Mayor Celso Lobregat declared so, citing that tests yielded negative of the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), Pseudo Rabies Virus (PRV) and Swine Influenza Virus (SIV-H1N1).

The test results that arrived this week were certified by the Philippine Animal Center of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), which also conducted the tests on serum samples from dead swines sent by the Office of the City Veterinarian here.

The samples were taken from a dozen pigs that died early this month in barangay Vitali, 72 kilometers east of this city, reports BusinessMirror. The situation caused undue alarm that it was an outbreak of the Ebola Reston virus.

Mayor Lobregat disclosed that five of the eight samples sent tested positive for the Classical Swine Fever, or hog cholera, a highly contagious disease of pigs that usually results in the death of the animal 15 days after it is infected.

He enjoined hog raisers to practice health management and husbandry to prevent the spread of hog cholera that could have a very bad impact on the swine industry.

He told hog raisers to submit their pigs to regular vaccinations and deworming, and keep pigpens and its surroundings cool, dry and clean. He also asked them to feed pigs with unspoiled food and clean water, and report to the city veterinarian any health problem of their animals.

Similarly, the mayor warned hog raisers not to slaughter and sell sick swine and other livestock, as this may harm the consumers and expose them to diseases.

[mikey]

 Home > Nation > Top Stories DA bans entry of cattle from Taiwan, Lebanon
04/01/2009 | 03:31 PM

Email this | Email the Editor | Print | ShareThisMANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) has banned the importation of cattle and other animals from Taiwan and Lebanon following the outbreaks of the food and mouth disease (FMD) in those countries.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap issued the ban after the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) or World Animal Health Organization confirmed the outbreaks.

In Lebanon, FMD was detected in a dairy cattle farm in the province of Kamed El-Iouz, and in Taiwan, the disease affected swine farms in the Maoliao township, Yun-Lin and Beidou town in Chang-hua.

The ban also suspends the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of Veterinary Quarantine Clearance (VQC) to import these animals from Lebanon and Taiwan.

DA veterinary quarantine officers and inspectors were also ordered to confiscate animals and their by products from the two countries.

FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that strikes cloven-hoofed animals.

Earlier, DA also imposed a ban on imports of cattle and other FMD-susceptible animals from China after OIE confirmed outbreaks in Hubei and Xinjiang.

Government wants the OIE to certify Luzon as FMD-free to pave the way for the global declaration of the Philippines as an FMD-free country.

“A global declaration of the country’s FMD-free status will help Filipino hog producers penetrate the export market and make the Philippines a viable site for halal food production," Yap had noted.

Luzon is the only remaining area in the country that has not yet been declared by the OIE as FMD-free, according to Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) officials.

BAI director Davinio Catbagan said the OIE had already declared as FMD-free the entire Mindanao in May 2001, as well as Masbate, Palawan, and the entire Visayas in the same month the following year.

The DA aims to secure OIE certification for most of Luzon as FMD-free "without vaccination," while the regions of Central Luzon and the Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon or Calabarzon area as FMD-free areas with vaccination.

Catbagan pointed out that the Philippines has not had an FMD outbreak in more than three years.

The last case of FMD was reported in Lucban, Quezon on December 28, 2005. - GMANews.TV