THE Sagay City Abattoir has expanded its operation by catering to more commercial hog raisers in Negros Occidental and bringing their products to markets outside the province.
The abattoir is a double A slaughterhouse accredited by the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).
Owned and operated by the local government, it offers services like slaughtering and cold storage of carcass.
It has a slaughtering capacity of 50 to 100 heads per hour, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), in a press release, said.
In terms of cold storage capacity, it can store 50 to 100 tons pork carcass, poultry, and other meat products.
PVO said the facility is scheduled to ship Tuesday, October 2, 176 heads of slaughtered fattened pigs to Cebu with Judphilan Foods Corporation as the buyer.
The pigs slaughtered for two days, which are equivalent to 11.3 tons carcass on storage, were sourced from Jaltas piggery based at Barangay Ma-ao in Bago City.
The average live weight of slaughtered pigs is 105 kilograms with carcass recovery rate of 81 percent, it added.
The Provincial Government, through PVO and Sagay City Government, has been promoting the marketing of frozen pork carcass as it is more advantageous compared to selling live animals.
Selling pork carcass eliminates loss weight, injuries, and mortalities among animals during shipment that may affect meat quality, PVO said.
This mode of marketing ensures the quality of meat produced by commercial and backyard hog raisers as well as a sustainable market for the commodity, it added.
"The province aims to eventually brand the pork carcasses produced at Sagay City Abattoir as 'Negros Pork' reaching other markets in the country and export market as well," it added.
Moreover, such marketing approach was conceptualized during the recent meeting attended by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena, Dr. Sheila Ann Billena representing Sagay City Abattoir, and Economic Enterprise Management Office head lawyer Ryan Bonghanoy.
Also present were some local commercial hog raisers, and Judphilan Foods Corporation and Enzo Meat Shop owner Jude Del Rio.
The scheme will eventually include the marketing of pigs raised by backyard raisers through the Alliance of Hog Raisers Association (Ahrano) comprised of 15,000 members. (EPN)