DA-BAI kicks off ASF vaccination

The government on Friday began the controlled trial of Vietnam-made African swine fever (ASF) vaccine as part of its efforts to combat the spread of the animal disease.

In a statement, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) said its personnel and officials began inoculating pigs in Lobo, Batangas — a municipality with one of the highest cases of ASF. 

The agency said the ASF vaccination rollout will involve the inoculation of healthy pigs to curb the spread of the disease, , which has been affecting the local hog sector since its detection in 2019.

The DA-BAI said only healthy pigs will be injected with the live but weakened virus.

The DA has allocated P350 million for the procurement of about 600,000 doses of ASF vaccine for the trial.

Vaccination will be done on a voluntary basis, prioritizing small hog raisers in areas with high cases of ASF.

DA Assistant Secretary for Swine and Poultry Constante Palabrica, a doctor of veterinary medicine, said developing hog immunity from ASF infection is critical to limiting the spread of the virus that has resulted in the death of millions of the country’s hog population. 

“ASF has severely affected both large integrators and backyard farms. While larger farms can invest in biosecurity measures, 60% of our hog population in backyard farms struggle with insufficient funding for effective protection,” said Palabrica.

The DA-BAI said its strategy includes using controlled and monitored vaccinations to help pigs reach 25 weeks and attain 100 kg, providing a new approach to tackling the disease. 

"We must embrace innovative solutions like this vaccine to improve outcomes for our hog industry," said Palabrica.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said that finding a suitable vaccine against ASF is essential to saving billions of investments, revitalizing backyard farms, and ensuring food security. 

"This effort highlights DA’s commitment to safeguard the swine industry and enhance national food security amid the ASF crisis. We're dedicated to support hog farmers and ensure the sustainability of our agriculture sector," said Tiu Laurel.

Apart from the over P300 million earmarked for the procurement of ASF vaccines, the Agriculture chief said the DA is ready to find additional funds if the controlled tests prove successful in shielding growers from infection.

In addition to this ASF vaccine, the DA-BAI is also exploring additional vaccines for breeders and growers to further support the industry. 

The ASF outbreak has caused widespread havoc in the swine industry, resulting in the loss of millions of pigs and threatening farmers’ livelihoods, according to the agency.

Currently, 32 provinces are still grappling with the ASF virus. —KBK, GMA Integrated News