African Swine Fever (ASF) Outbreak in the Kalinga State University Native Pig R&D Project: The Yookah Depopulation Ordeal

The outbreak of African swine fever in the Yookah Native Pig R&D Project is really a devastating experience, not just wasted financial assistance but most difficult feeling in the part of the researchers who put all their time and effort to produce research results and new knowledge and technology significant in the native pig industry. The objective of the study looked into the factors that caused the outbreak and identified the preventions and controls done during the outbreak. It is found out that human negligence is the number one factor that causes the spread of ASF. But, a good biosecurity protocol and strict implementation of farm rules can somehow prevent and control the spread of the disease in the farm. Based from the results and conclusions of the study, the following is recommended to somehow control and prevent the spread of the disease (1) with or without disease outbreaks, farm biosecurity protocols should be strictly implemented; (2) once confirmed through laboratory test that there is ASF positive in the herd, depopulation of the entire herd is necessary; and (3) if a certain area has still positive cases for ASF, repopulation or acquiring new herd should be avoided. May these ASF outbreak ordeal will serve as a lesson to each and every researcher to be more objective in their approach in conducting researches to avoid uncontrolled situations like this.