The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday it initiated a controlled trial of a Vietnam-developed African Swine Fever (ASF) live vaccine in Lobo, Batangas, one of the municipalities affected by the animal disease.
DA assistant secretary for swine and poultry Constante Palabrica said the vaccine rollout would help protect healthy pigs and curb the spread of ASF which had devastated the hog industry since 2019.
“We must embrace innovative solutions like this vaccine to improve outcomes for our hog industry,” he said, emphasizing the importance of developing hog immunity to limit the virus’s spread.
He acknowledged the challenges faced by both large and small-scale farmers, particularly the latter’s difficulty in implementing biosecurity measures due to financial constraints.
The new strategy involves controlled vaccinations to help pigs reach market weight, offering a fresh approach to tackling the disease.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. stressed the urgency of finding an effective vaccine to protect investments, revitalize backyard farms and ensure food security.
The DA, with an allocation of P300 million for 600,000 ASF vaccines, said it is prepared to secure additional funding if the trials are successful. They are also exploring other vaccines for breeders and growers.
The ASF outbreak has caused significant losses in the swine industry, affecting 32 provinces.
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