NIBONG TEBAL: Some 1,500 head of swine from a farm here will be culled after the presence of the African Swine Fever (ASF) was detected there, says Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik.
The confirmation came after the Penang Veterinary Services Department (DVS) visited the farm at 2pm Thursday (Jan 5), and ordered the culling to begin immediately. It is understood that the culling exercise will be completed by Jan 8.
“The traditional open-style pig farm will be demolished, and all pigs in the farm will be culled," said Goh.
He said that destruction of the diseased flock is the current priority, and the clean-up exercise will follow the procedures laid down by DVS, the Land Department, the local council, and various relevant departments.
The movement of pigs and pork from the farm, located at Mukim 12 (next to the North South Expressway) and adjacent farms in the area is also banned with immediate effect, even as DVS is investigating the source of the infection.
Goh also clarified on Facebook that the related pig farm is not in Valdor Village so as not to cause confusion among the public.
He said that the relevant pig farm did not obtain a renewed business licence last year, and was instructed to clear out within the six-month grace period that ran from June 1 to December 31 last year.
"As of 2022, there were 124 pig farms in Penang with 267,348 pigs, with 64 farms in north Seberang Prai, 52 in south Seberang Prai, 4 in central Seberang Prai, and four in the island's South-west district, with the 52 farms in south Seberang Prai district hosting 139,795 pigs," said Goh.
ASF, which infects both domestic and wild pigs, has become a major crisis for the pork industry as it has caused massive losses in pig populations across several regions around the world.
With no effective vaccine, the disease threatens the livestock industry, bringing with it detrimental impacts on biodiversity and the livelihoods of farmers.
