Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Jan 26: The price of pork meat, which shot up recently by Rs 100, has not come down. From Rs 250 a kilo its price has touched Rs 350 per kilo. Also, big sized pigs are not available with the pig farming. In fact, pig farm owners are facing acute shortage of pigs.

Karavali pig farmers producer company limited which was established recently for the progress and development of pig farmers is also not getting pigs in sufficient numbers. Now, the owners of the company are trying to find alternative sources to cater to the demand of its customers. The company has 488 members.

It was confirmed that swine flu had affected some parts of Dakshina Kannada district before the disease was officially found in a private farm of Padu Perara village. There is information that some swineherds did sell off the affected pigs in the market.

African Swine flu is an easily contagious disease that spreads through viruses. The death rate from the viruses is 100%. In the wake of rising incidences of this disease most of the swineherds have reduced the number of pigs that they are rearing as per the advice of the veterinary doctors.

Due to the non-availability of the big pigs the demand for piglets is on the rise. A two-month old piglet is being sold for Rs 6,000 now. Earlier, the price for the same piglet ranged between Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000.

ICCOA coordinator Sathish says that pig farmers are not taking risks due to the scare of Swine flu and as piglets are remuneratively priced.

Dr Vasant Shetty, regional research officer, Mangaluru veterinary disease centre, said, “Right now there is no scare of African Swine flu in Dakshina Kannada district. However, we have informed the pig farmers not to take risks by rearing a large number of pigs. Usually Swine flu spreads easily and quickly during transportation. That is why the district administration has prohibited transportation of pigs from other districts and states."