 VOLUME 1- ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER, 2019

THE PIG TALES

TOP ISSUES
PHILIPPINES CON-
FIRMS AFRICAN SWINE
FEVER CAUSED PIG
DEATHS

BEST ISSUES
CHINA IS BREEDING GIANT PIGS
THE SIZE OF
POLAR BEARS TO COPE WITH
SUPPLY PLUNGE AFTER
AFRICAN SWINE FEVER

Professional Pig Community

TAGUM-MABINI CAMPUS
1
C O N T E N T S

3-4 An Empowered Woman’s Secret to a

Successful Piggery

5-6 BRINGING THE“FARM” BACK TO HOG

FARMING

7-8 GOOD PIG FARM WITH TECHNOLOGY

9-10 PIGS HAVE BEEN OBSERVED USING TOOLS FOR THE

FIRST TIME

11-12 UNKNOWN DISEASE CONTINUES TO KILL HOGS IN RIZAL;

BOHOL MOVES TO BAN ENTRY OF PIGS

13-14 CHINA IS BREEDING GIANT PIGS THE SIZE OF POLAR

BEARS TO COPE WITH SUPPLY PLUNGE AFTER AFRICAN
SWINE FEVER

15-16 NATIVE PIG RAISING

17-18 PHILIPPINES CONFIRMS AFRICAN SWINE FEVER

CAUSED PIG DEATHS

2
An Empowered
Woman’s
Secret to a
Successful
Piggery
ARTICLE BY:JAIME V. CASTILLO JR.

TAER MARILOU

An Empowered Woman's Secret to a Successful Piggery : DSWD Field Office IV Mimaropa Official
3 Website. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://fo4b.dswd.gov.ph/2018/01/an-empowered-
womans-secret-to- a-successful-piggery/?
T
Meant to be a farmer and a lot more, coming across a
he part of women and its contributions to culture program of Department of Social Welfare and Develop-
ment about livelihood and training is almost a surprise to
should never be underestimated in this predominantly her. Nanay Tere’s interest on pig farming started way
male-controlled culture, like in the Philippines. Women- back 2008. However, this faded because no one could
led organizations in the government, non-government lead her to an agency that provides training. In 2016, the
organization, and private sector have molded and influ- craving hit again but this time it was purely unintentional.
enced national issues pertaining to governance and oth-
Going back to the program, she was able to get a short
er economic-related happenings. More women and wom-
training on livestock raising. Acquiring the basics on pig
en organizations are now playing a proactive role to-
production and being a member in an organization put
wards national development. One good example is one
her desire in place. It was a perfect timing. Since then,
Sustainable Livelihood Program Association based in
Nanay Tere’s desire to pursue pig raising never left her.
Brgy. La Curva, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. The
In 2016, she started her small farm in La Curva with 3
SLPA is an all-women group composed of hog raisers
weaners for fattening from the Sustainable Livelihood
and has been contributing economically to their baran-
Program of DSWD. She applied the feeding technique
gay. This is the story of Teresita “Nanay Tere” Salde who
for swine she learnt at the training. Growth was good but
chose to be an empowered woman.
transportation and feed cost pulled the profit. She lost
Hog raising in the Philippines has been a profitable busi- enthusiasm that she almost wanted to quit.
ness for Filipinos through the decades. Its fame is obvi-
At the moment, revenue is to be realized and even costs
ously seen among backyards of rural families. An aver-
are piling up. Nanay Tere did not lose hope. She trusted
age Filipino usually raises a small number of pigs to sup-
that God is gracious to the one who preserve His land
plement their daily needs. While both parents are busy
and the ecosystem. Despite the trials she bumped into
with their work, children may help in raising a few piglets
due to barriers such as the existing market and opera-
until they reach their merchantable age. No wonder,
tional expenses, she still pursued her business endeav-
more hogs are produced in backyards compared to com-
or. As a whole, it is financially and emotionally draining
mercial swine raisers. In Barangay La Curva, it was
for her.
acknowledged during the conduct of Participatory Liveli-
hood Issue Analysis that there are Pantawid Partner The Basic Training on Swine Raising was a great help on
Beneficiaries engaged in backyard hog raising. Usually, her decision to put up a farm. “SLP is an enabler”, she
traders in the municipality especially public market pork added. Being a mother of seven, daily subsistence is
dealers roam within the barangay to buy hogs. really a struggle. But because of having hogs in her
backyard, she was able to support their daily expenses
Nanay Tere having no background in agronomy and get-
and use some of the profit during emergency.
ting involved onto it is no longer new. She thought that
there are lot of enthusiasts all over the world into farming
acquiring direct knowledge and involvement thru experi-
ments, pushed by their own advocacy. Through time, she
was able to apply such belief in swine raising.

4
 BRINGING THE
“FARM”BACK
TO HOG
ARTICLE BY: BRIAN BIENKOWSKI

SUICO CHIE ANN L.

RALEIGH, N.C.—Dan Moore's farm marks an abrupt exit from the fringes of suburbia: cookie cooker homes give
way as a rolling road weaves you through a dense canopy of deciduous trees.

It would be easy to miss the driveway but for a small sign of a cartoon cow with a sword, the logo for the family farm
dubbed, of course, Ninja Cow.

Moore's family has deep roots in North Carolina. His relatives have farmed here for more than a century.

"I tried to leave like most farm kids but got pulled back," Moore tells me on a mid-80s day in April, right before his
busy season. The 84-acre Ninja Cow Farm (named after a difficult and elusive cow from years past) is just 20 minutes
south of downtown Raleigh. Approaching the farm, you see the hallmarks of encroaching sprawl—manicured lawns,
fastidious landscaping, subdivisions. Moore's plot of Earth is wild, well protected, covered by trees—with the hallmarks
of people and animals at work.

The farm is half pasture, half wooded. Moore's hogs roam and root among the trees. They squeal, nudge one another,
burrow in mud and eat from piles of would-be-wasted Raleigh Farmer's Market produce.

5 Bienkowski, B. (2017, December 4). Bringing the "farm" back to hog farming. Retrieved from https://www.ehn.org/pasture-
organic-hog-pig-farming-2504906160.html?fbclid=IwAR10b02YFsOVtKV0gNbHBCPx1DaVn47k9wy86rFobFWLuuJ9xBL8tiAGKGg.
His answer on the future is not nuanced: "It's indoors." The reasons are simple: More control, more consistency,
lower costs.

However, meat eaters are increasingly looking for local, humane, environmentally friendly pork. Ninja Cow isn't
technically a "pasture farm" since the hogs are feeding on produce from the farmer's market and roaming the
woods. But it's unquestionably a farm: And that lies at the heart of a move toward raising hogs outside—both
from the farmer's and consumer's point of view.

Advocates of outdoor hog raising say the industry model is simply hiding costs in excess pollution, government
subsidies and lax regulation.

"Commodity pork is not the true cost of food," says Ross Duffield, farm manager with the Rodale Institute, a
Pennsylvania-based research institute advocating for organic farming. "We need to get back
in touch with farmers, and farmers need to let consumers know hog pork is raised."

6
 GOOD PIG
FARM WITH
TECHNOLOGY

ARTICLE BY: CASEY BRADLEY

MIONES, ELMER B.

Bradley, C. (2018, July 23). Why a good pig farm can't do without technology. Retrieved from https://www.pigprogress.net/
7 Piglets/ Articles/2018/7/Why-a-good-pig-farm-cant-do-without-technology-312546E/?
fbclid=IwAR0Qe0aN1y6ODaCtpQ18CKgxN0FNU-Yy5QIxgf4z20FJQFCIyPIpb7OSxe4.
 Labour shortage is one of the major problems in modern-day swine production. Yet,
switching to technology to save manpower seems a giant step to take, says swine
feed technology expert Dr Casey Bradley. She has at least 3 good reasons to consid-

Number 1 problem in swine production

But back to the real pigs… during many of the discussions with producers, the number 1
problem they are facing is a labour shortage, let alone highly trained labour access. Dur-
ing the discussions of research, I have had to explain the type of feed technologies we
would need to use to accurately weigh and blend different diets for both gestating and
lactating sows.

As a nutritionist, I understand the potential benefits of this type of equipment for any pro-
duction system and not just research. However, technology scares producers and follow-
ing suit to my last column, ‘sticker shock’ is the bigger issue. Many of them run the eco-

Technology can save manpower in

barns
Targeted animal focus
I am perplexed by the contradictions of a labour
This type of technology allows you to find at risk
shortage being the number 1 problem our industry
sows quicker and easier, while the other 80-95%
faces and not considering a technology that will
save or extend manpower within a system. Thus, if take care of themselves. Additionally, there is plenty
of research available suggesting that sows have
you are considering some new technologies for your
different nutritional requirements based on numer-
systems, I thought I would share with you some of
ous factors. Feed blending technology would allow
my perceived insights or benefits:
you to tailor the sow to her individual needs, while
hopefully enhancing her productivity and/or efficien-
cy.
Ability to hire a different type of employee

What can’t Generation Z live without, technology.

This new generation understands technology and
they know how to use these tools to be more effi-
cient and successful. Furthermore, you can utilise
the people who are good at animal husbandry for
the animal work and the ‘techie’ personalities to
keep your equipment performing.
Clear transparency
These technologies provide data to help you make
better decisions, from understanding why you are
truly culling animals, to running your own internal
research trials, to further mini-
mising human error. No more
guessing if Sow 1000 ate or not
yesterday, but you will know this
before you’ve even finished your 8
morning cup of coffee. Not to
 Over millions of years, humans have developed a talent for
transforming bits of nature into objects that make daily tasks
easier. We got so good at it, we started to think tool-use
among animals was a rather exclusive club - as it turns out,
we were wrong.

Adding to the long list of animals that use tools, we now have
evidence that suggests pigs might be using sticks to construct
their nests.

We've long known that other apes can make and use tools.
So can crows. Dolphins use sponges to protect their snoz
while foraging. Octopuses have an interesting use for coconut
shells. Given their smarts, it's shocking that science has been

“When I looked up tool use in pigs, there was nothing,"

Université Paris-Saclay ecologist Meredith Root-Bernstein told

Christine Dell'Amore at National Geographic.

Yet when Root-Bernstein visited the famous Jardin des Plantes

zoo in Paris in late 2015, that was exactly what she saw –

a Visayan warty pig (Sus cebifrons) using a piece of bark to push

around loose soil in its enclosure.

Her observations would have been a prime opportunity to fill a gap in the literature.

Sadly, over successive months, Root-Bernstein didn't get a repeat performance to analyse further.

But every time she stopped by, that notable bark shank was lying somewhere different in the

enclosure, often suspiciously near a patch of churned earth.

McRae, M. (n.d.). Pigs Have Been Observed Using Tools For The First Time, And There's Video Evidence. Retrieved from https://
9 www.sciencealert.com/we-can-now-add-pigs-to-the-growing-list-of-non-humans-that-can-use-tools.
PIGS HAVE BEEN
OBSERVED
USING TOOLS
FOR THE
FIRST TIME
ARTICLE BY: MIKE MCRAE

SUELO SOLMAY P .

10
 UNKNOWN DISEASE CONTINUES
TO KILL HOGS IN RIZAL;
BOHOL MOVES TO BAN
ENTRY OF PIGS

ARTICLE BY: MADELAINE MIRAFLOR AND CALVIN CORDOVA

TAER MARILOU

Hog ban Citing suspected cases of ASF in Luzon, Bohol Gov. Arthur Yap banned the transport

of live pigs, pork and pork-related products to the province. Yap said shipments of pork meat and
pork-related products will only be

allowed if they have a Veterinary Health Certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian and the appro-
priate permit from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Quarantine Services. “For pork meat and
pork-related products, Bohol will also not accept these products unless accompanied by the appro-
priate Certificate of Meat Inspection from the NMIS (National Meat Inspection Services),” said Yap in
a statement released Tuesday. Yap said he imposed the ban because of “the reported worsening
situation in Luzon where the DA (Department of Agriculture) has refused to confirm or deny suspect-
ed cases of hog deaths due to ASF.”

Unknown disease continues to kill hogs in Rizal; Bohol moves to ban entry of pigs. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://
11 news.mb.com.ph/2019/08/21/unknown-disease-continues-to-kill-hogs-in-rizal-bohol-moves-to-ban-entry-of-pigs/.
A local official in Rizal, who requested anonymity, said in a phone interview that the
government continues to cull pigs in their area, following the abnormal increase in
the hog mortality in Macabud, San Isidro, and San Jose since last Saturday.

He also expects the culling operations to continue until the next three weeks.

DA Spokesperson Noel Reyes, however, said he can neither “confirm nor deny” that
the areas allegedly hit by the deadly swine disease African Swine Fever (ASF) are
indeed in Rizal.

He also refused to confirm whether the disease was indeed ASF – a contagious viral
disease that affects domestic and wild pigs – saying confirmation is still needed from
recognized foreign reference laboratory in Europe and results should be out within
the next two weeks or three months.

Reyes, however, said the DA is now “on top of the situation” and that intensified se-
curity measures are now in place to prevent the spread of the unknown disease
throughout the Philippines, which could lead to the destruction of the country’s P260
-billion hog industry.

An unidentified swine disease continues to kill pigs in Rizal province, but the Depart-
ment of Agriculture (DA) still refuse to release further details.

Nomerlita Librao, attends to her pigs at her backyward piggery in Sittio Upper
Bangkal in Rodriguez, Rizal, August 20 2019. The Department of Agriculture (DA)
has revived its Crisis Management Team (CMT) to contain the spread of a suspect-
ed animal disease that has been causing the death of backyard-grown pigs.

A local official in Rizal, who requested anonymity, said in a phone interview that the
government continues to cull pigs in their area, following the abnormal increase in
the hog mortality in Macabud, San Isidro, and San Jose since last Saturday.

He also expects the culling operations to continue until the next three weeks.

DA Spokesperson Noel Reyes, however, said he can neither “confirm nor deny” that
the areas allegedly hit by the deadly swine disease
African Swine Fever (ASF) are indeed in Rizal.

He also refused to confirm whether the disease was

indeed ASF – a contagious viral disease that affects
domestic and wild pigs – saying confirmation is still
needed from recognized foreign reference laboratory
in Europe and results should be out within the next
two weeks or three months. 12
 CHINA IS BREEDING GIANT PIGS THE SIZE OF

POLAR BEARS TO COPE WITH SUPPLY PLUNGE AFTER

AFRICAN SWINE FEVER

ARTICLE BY: HERMESAUTO

RAMOS, RHYN JEFER A.

Hermesauto. (2019, October 6). China is breeding giant pigs the size of polar bears to cope with supply plunge after
African swine fever. Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/china-is-breeding-
giant-pigs-the-size-of-polar-bears-to-cope-with-supply-plunge-after.
13
 A student feeds pigs at a farm next to a They want to raise them "as big as possi-

R primary school in Xuanwei, Yunnan prov-

ince, China, on Dec 22, 2018.
BEIJING (BLOOMBERG) - In a farm deep
in the southern region of China lives a very
big pig that is as heavy as a polar bear.
The 500kg animal is part of a herd that is
being bred to become giant swine. At
slaughter, some of the pigs can sell for
more than 10,000 yuan (S$1,900), over
three times higher than the average month-
ly disposable income in Nanning, the capi-
tal of Guangxi province where Mr Pang
Cong, the farm's owner, lives.
While Mr Pang's pigs may be an extreme
example of the lengths that farmers are
going to fill China's swelling pork shortage
problem, the idea that bigger is better has
been spreading across the country, home
to the world's most voracious consumers of
the meat.
ble", said Mr Zhao Hailin, a hog farmer in
the region.
The trend is not limited to small farms ei-
ther. Major protein producers in China, in-
cluding Wens Foodstuffs Group, the coun-
try's top pig breeder, Cofco Meat Holdings
and Beijing Dabeinong Technology Group
say they are trying to increase the average
weight of their pigs. Big farms are focusing
on boosting the heft by at least 14 per cent,
said Mr Lin Guofa, a senior analyst with
consulting firm Bric Agriculture Group.
The average weight of pigs at slaughter at
some large-scale farms has climbed to as
much as 140kg, compared with about
110kg normally, Mr Lin said. That could
boost profits by more than 30 per cent, he
said.

High pork prices in the north-eastern prov-

ince of Jilin is prompting farmers to raise
pigs to reach an average weight of 175kg
to 200kg, higher than the normal weight of
125kg

14
NATIVE
PIG
RAISING
ARTICLE BY: DR. RENE C. SANTIAGO

DAPITANON JHANNO E.

Native pigs are characterized by their distinct black

color, although it is not uncommon to see breeds
with white, red, or black spots. Both the sow and boar
have an average weight of 40 to 60 kilograms (kg).

Typically, native pigs are raised in far-flung areas

where housing structures or pens are not provided.
They multiply fast because they breed and give birth
easily. An average litter of 5 to 8 piglets are produced
per farrowing. The sows care for their young and have
natural antibodies against common diseases and par-
asites.
Typically, native pigs are raised in far-flung areas where housing structures
Native pigs are characterized by their distinct black or pens are not provided. They multiply fast because they breed and give
color. birth easily. An average litter of 5 to 8 piglets are produced per farrowing.
The sows care for their young and have natural antibodies against common
An advantage of native pig farming is the low capital
diseases and parasites.
requirement. They are easy to raise and are highly
adaptable to local conditions. In addition, native pigs An advantage of native pig farming is the low capital requirement.
can survive by making use of local feed sources and They are easy to raise and are highly adaptable to local conditions.
simple management practices. Their characteristic In addition, native pigs can survive by making use of local feed
taste appeals to consumers, which adds to their mar-
sources and simple management practices. Their characteristic taste
ketability.
appeals to consumers, which adds to their marketability.

Sarian, Z. B., & Agriculture Monthly. (2018, September 14). Native Pig Raising. Retrieved from https://

15
Housing and Free Range
Presently, native pigs can be seen tied under shady trees or roaming freely around backyards. This practice often
causes problems like illness that can sometimes lead to death, which is why experts advise that they be provided
with housing structures.

The recommended measurement for the pen is 2 x 2 meters (m) per sow or boar. The pen should have a roof which
can be made of local materials such as nipa, cogon, or anahaw (foodstool palm).
The walls can be made of bamboo and coconut husk.

It is also recommended that a fenced grazing area, made of coconut husk, wooden
planks, or bamboo slats, be provided.Upper beddings of the pig pen should include
a mix of 1 bag coconut coir dust/saw dust/rice hull, 1 bag of soil, and 1/2 kg salt;
the lower bedding should include a mixture of dry coconut husk/rice straw/dry
leaves, with 1 meter height between beddings. Enclosure is made of bamboo. More
info: can use saw dust, rice hull/straw, etc.; water the top soil if needed (ideal 60% 16
 PHILIPPINES CONFIRMS AFRICAN
SWINE FEVER CAUSED PIG DEATHS
ARTICLE BY: ALANAH TORRALBA

SUELO SOL MAY P.

Livestock accounts for 17 per cent of Philippine agricultural output. Philippine hog production totalled more than 2.3 million tonnes based on live weight
242 billion pesos (S$6.4 billion).PHOTO: REUTERS

Al Jazeera. (2019, September 9). Philippines confirms African swine fever, culls 7,000 pigs. Retrieved from https:
www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/09/philippines-confirms-african-swine-fever-culls-7000-pigs-
17 190909052309745.html.
 (MANILA (BLOOMBERG) - The Philippines confirmed that African
swine fever caused the deaths of hundreds of pigs in towns near its capital,
making it the latest Asian country to be affected by the highly contagious
viral disease.

"We are still waiting on whether the virus affecting the hog areas in the
country is weak or virulent," Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in a
briefing on Monday (Sept 9).

He said 14 out of 20 blood samples sent to Britain tested positive for the
virus.

President Rodrigo Duterte approved the formation of a task force that will
include the police and the military to prevent an outbreak, Mr Dar said.

The virus potentially came from hotels, restaurants or even overseas Filipi-
no workers bringing pork products from affected countries, he said.

The Agriculture Department on Aug 19 opened a probe following increased

swine deaths from backyard raisers and ordered that all pigs within a 1km
radius of the infected farms be culled.

Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia on Aug 6 said the possible

entry of the deadly swine disease that's spreading across Asia is among
t in 2018, valued at
the risks to inflation this year. The virus is not known to harm humans.

18
 EDITOR:

DAPITANON JHANNO E.

CONTRIBUTORS :

SUELO SOL MAY P.

RAMOS, RHYN JEFER A.

TAER MARILOU

MIONES, ELMER B.
SUICO CHIE ANN L.

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