Legazpi City vets check swine body temperature before slaughtering

Personnel from the Legazpi City Veterinary office closely monitor the pigs and make sure sure that they are not infected with African Swine Fever. Michael B. Jaucian/INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON

LEGAZPI CITY –– Personnel from the city veterinary office here are strictly implementing measures to make sure the swine to be butchered are free from African Swine Fever.

Dr. Emmanuel Estipona, Legazpi City veterinarian, said they use laser temperature gun before they bring the pigs into the city abattoir.

“Livestock technicians are stationed 24/7 at the Legazpi abattoir to closely monitor the health of every pig coming from different villages by checking the body temperature,” he said.

According to him, this was to make sure that the swine had no fever and not infected with ASF.

Estipona said swine owners should also acquire a veterinary health certificate to prove that the swine was fit for human consumption.

He said they have not received reports of ASF cases in the city.

He also assured consumers that the pork meat sold at the city’s wet markets would be ASF-free and fully inspected by the National Meat Inspection Services.

On Thursday, the city veterinary office would also gather backyard hog raisers to discuss ASF./lzb