May 17, 2021

Philippines delivers 'sentinel' pigs to support local productions

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture is distributing 'sentinel' piglets in areas where there are no reported cases of African swine fever for at least 90 days.

Initially, the pigs will delivered in eight regions, benefiting 8,000 smallholder farmers. The animals are part of the Philippines' sentinel protocol that checks if a virus or disease is still present in an area.

The programme is the start of the government's restocking effort to increase pig production and subsequently stabilise pork supplies and prices.

An investment was also made available to pig multiplier farms to ensure a continuous source of piglets for the subsequent expansion of the restocking programme and investments in biosecurity and surveillance programmes.

- Department of Agriculture (Philippines)