Farmers and poultry owners need to be on guard against diseases that threaten pigs, goats, chickens and other farm animals during the dry season, said the Cebu Provincial Veterinary Office.

Dr. Mary Rose Vincoy, who heads the office, said heat stroke, pneumonia, and orf or sore mouth infections are among the diseases that might affect these animals.

“Pigs are very prone to heat stroke because of their fat content. People who own a piggery already know what to do. Some would use electric fans, provide their animals water always, and some would bathe them two to three times a day,” said Vincoy.

During summer, she said that goats usually get the orf virus, while livestock who go through unstable weather—like alternating periods of heat and cold in the mountains—can suffer from pneumonia.

“In elevated areas, it gets very hot during daytime but cold at night. Pneumonia can occur not just during cold weather, but when there are sudden changes in the temperature,” she said.

Last year, the Provincial Veterinary Office and the Department of Agriculture (DA) organized an information caravan as one of their activities to lessen the effects of El Niño.

According to an article posted on the DA website, the agency’s mitigation plan includes positioning drought-tolerant seeds of rice, corn and vegetables; making water pumps available; and providing other forms of assistance to livestock breeders.

The Capitol in partnership with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. has also insured the farmers’ animals.

Farmers who are not yet registered will have to visit their municipal agriculture office and fill out the forms to avail themselves of the Capitol’s insurance program, said Vincoy.

Source - http://www.sunstar.com.ph/