October 16, 2008

Philippine livestock production, particularly the hog industry, will likely post a decline this year due to swine diseases that struck in Luzon which began in 2007.

According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, hog production fell by 4.33 percent to 15.934 million tonnes in the first half from the 16.655 million tonnes recorded in the same period last year due to the porcine reproductive respiratory syndrome(PRRS) that hit Luzon.

Furthermore, the livestock subsector, which contributed 11.67 percent to the total agriculture output, contracted 3.33 percent in the first semester of 2008.

The contraction would significantly reduce the income of backyard farmers, who are selling hogs at farm prices of P65-P85. Data from the BAS show that prevailing retail prices of hogs average P150-P160 as of last Tuesday (October 14).

Officials of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) earlier said they expect no growth in hog production this year.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the government would invest in identifying and eradication of the disease.

Last August, the department announced a P30-million vaccination program in PRRS-stricken regions of Central Luzon and the Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon corridor. BAI also vowed to distribute piglets and subsidize feeds for backyard farmers, who make up 70 percent of swine production.