Tighten biosecurity

in pig farms - OPV

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—“Tighten biosecurity measures,” veterinarians at the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) urge.

This, as investments in pig multiplier farms, fattening, or maintaining breeders continue to show the potential for profits.

In Bohol, from P280-350 per kilo last year, market prices for pork has reached P360 to an all-time high P400 a kilo this month, a report from the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) showed.

The price for pork in Lila and Valencia has just reached P400 a kilo, P390 in Panglao and Jagna, P380 in Alburquerque, Alicia, Baclayon, Bien Unido, Candijay, Dimiao, Guindulman, Loon and Talibon, while the cheapest are P320 in Buenavista, Catigbian, Getafe and President Carlos P. Garcia, based on the OPV Price Monitoring of hog and pork, datad August 1, 2025.

In August 2 last year, it was P380 per kilo in Valencia and P280 in Catigbian.

This too as the dreaded African Swine Fever (ASF), the hog disease that has the potential to wipe out the multi-billion industry in Bohol continues to threaten small pig farms that comprise over 80 percent of the industry here.

And while the virus slips though some quarantine control checkpoints and hitting small family farms, veterinary authorities have moved the defences one step back and focused on tightened biosecurity.

Biosecurity refers to measures taken to prevent the introduction and spread of harmful organisms, including infectious diseases, pests, and invasive species, that can negatively impact human, animal, plant, and ecosystem health, define OPV veterinarians Dr Domino Bayron and Christopher Jay Tanduyon.

Speaking at the Kapihan sa PIA, the veterinarians agree that tightening biosecurity of the farm could be a very effective measure against ASF.

By putting up strict biosecurity measures in the farm, hogs remain in a secure environment free from contact with other possible virus carriers and fomates, Dr. Bayron explained.

One measure is to put up a fence around the pigpen, to discourage chicken and other farm animals which could have roamed in areas where there is an infection, Bayron said.

When we feed, sometimes, chicken, ducks, dogs share in the food, and if by any chance these animals came in contact with the virus, these can help spread across other farms, Bayron, who has had extensive experiences of quarantine control since last year explained.

With the fence, which can be nets, owners need to dip some sort of a shallow trench around the pig pen to redirect possible water run-off away from the pig farm, as the water could also carry with it the virus and contaminate the farm, according to Dr. Bayron.

And for access to the pens, there has to be a footbath.

Put in a shallow container chlorine and water mixture, where the caretaker steps on everytime he enters the pigpens, this is a cheap disinfectant that kills the virus, adds Dr Tanduyan, during the radio forum aired live on PIA Bohol facebook and youtube channels.

It is also good to have a set of boots to be used only inside the pigpens, as bringing the boot outside could increase the chances of contamination.

And, when practicable, do not let anyone, except the caretaker and the OPV disease and monitoring team, get into the pigpens, they can be carriers of the virus, summed the veterinarians.(PIABohol)

SECURE THE PIGPEN. Dr Domino Bayron (extreme left) said if farmers secure their pigpens from possible entry of any carrier of the virus, the chances of getting ASF significantly reduces to almost zero. Putting in enclosing nets, installing footbaths and regulating entry of persons in the pigpens can work to assure profits, both Dr Bayrona nd Cristopher Jay Tanduyan assured. (PIABohol)