By Erwin Nicavera/Philippine News Agency
BACOLOD CITY — Livestock and poultry raisers in Negros Occidental have already lost PHP4.6 million due to the extreme heat associated with the El Niño phenomenon.
The poultry sector, particularly broilers, incurred the biggest amount of losses worth PHP1.48 million or 32 percent, based on the final damage report released by the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) on Tuesday.
For other poultry animals, raisers reported losses in layers totaling PHP478,564; free-range chicken, PHP474,323; and game fowl, PHP450,500. Each commodity comprises 10 percent of the total losses.
Meanwhile, the swine sector incurred PHP1.183 million in losses, equivalent to 26 percent, while the remaining 8 percent or PHP369,278, accounts for losses in cattle.
Alpha Grace Tupas, project development officer I, said the cumulative report covers 26 affected local government units in Negros Occidental.
No additional damage is projected as rains are already experienced in some parts of the province, she added.
The PVO had earlier said that swine among livestock, and broiler for poultry are most vulnerable to extreme heat.
Since swine has no sweat glands, the animal has difficulty regulating its body temperature so they need to be bathed frequently.
Broiler and layers, meanwhile, are fast-growing, thus their metabolism is also fast, but they have a weak coping mechanism when it comes to heat regulation.
Aside from swine and chicken, some ruminants are also affected by the dry spell.
The amount of losses in livestock and poultry is part of about PHP480 million worth of production losses incurred by the province’s agro-fishery sector due to the El Niño.
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