By Gail Momblan/Philippine News Agency
ILOILO CITY — The El Niño, or the prolonged dry spell, has left at least PHP102-million worth of damage to Iloilo province’s livestock and poultry, the Provincial Veterinarian Office (PVO) said on Tuesday.
Dr. Darel Tabuada, Veterinarian IV of the PVO, said nine of the 43 local government units in the province had reported damage to livestock and poultry.
“Most of the damage reported was on the layers or hens that lay eggs. Due to the extreme heat, the chicken refuse to eat or even drink water,” Tabuada said in an interview.
Based on the May 6 data of the PVO, Bingawan town’s affected poultry amounted to 2, 538 heads; Lambunao, 654; and Igbaras, 214.
There were also mortality cases of ruminants that include cows, carabaos, and goats due to lack of food.
The heat withers the weeds they eat and causes ruminants to lose weight, Tabuada said, adding there were also cases of heat stroke among pigs.
Only the towns of Lambunao, Bingawan, Santa Barbara, Dueñas, Igbaras, Miag-ao, San Dionisio, Janiuay, and Cabatuan had submitted their damage report to the PVO.
Tabuada said more towns are expected to submit their reports but they anticipate minor or no damage in some areas.
Farmers in Iloilo province were also encouraged to provide their livestock and poultry animals with multivitamins to boost the appetite and electrolytes to prevent dehydration.
Tabuada likewise told farmers to feed chicken at night time “because chicken usually refuse food (at) noon time because of the heat.”
The ruminants are preferably should be placed in shady areas away from the heat to reduce cases of heat stroke, he added.
The PVO can provide assistance to farmers through antibiotics, dewormers, and vitamins from its buffer stock.
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