THE Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental has noted an increase in the average live weight price of hogs in the province amid the ongoing scare brought by the African Swine Fever (ASF).
From P200.64 per kilogram last month, the prevailing live weight price of pigs is P201.40 per kilogram or an increase of P0.76 per kilogram.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena, in a statement, said the increase is mainly attributed to the growing demand of the commodity not only by local consumers but most especially by the neighboring provinces.
These nearby areas source out stocks from Negros Occidental, which is noted to have strict implementation of the ordinance on ASF.
Decena said low supply is also one factor that led to the increase in the live weight price of hogs among auction markets.
“Backyard raisers especially those in the far flung areas opted to sell directly their stocks to traders at a lower price as they fear for possible low market demand on hogs amid the ASF threat,” he said, adding that “the movement in the live weight price, however, has not significantly affected consumers as retail prices on pork remained stable.”
Since demand for pork continues to grow, it is perceived that there will be gradual improvement on the live weight price and retail price in the coming months, the veterinarian pointed out.
The PVO added that average prevailing market prices on live hogs among auction markets are P150 per kilogram (slaughter) in Salvador Benedicto; P90 to P95 per kilogram (slaughter) and P105 to P115 per kilogram (fattening) in Calatrava; and P105 to 115 per kilogram (slaughter) in Sagay City.
In Moises Padilla, the average prevailing market price of the commodity is P85 per kilogram (slaughter and fattening); Kabankalan City - P105 per kilogram (slaughter, fattening and breeding); and Hinoba-an - P100 per kilogram (slaughter) and P105 per kilogram (breeding), it added.
Slaughtered are those with body weight of less than 80 kilograms, while those for fattening weigh 80 kilograms and more.
Hogs for breeding, on the other hand, are those grown for reproduction or known as “nayon” system.