DA-7: Report to us sick animals

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA)-7 is encouraging upland farmers to immediately inform authorities on unrecorded cases of sick cattle and other animals.

This, after reports of farm animals and crops affected by an unusually cold Cebu weather triggered a declaration of state of calamity in the mountain barangays of Cebu City in Wednesday's City Council session.

"Farmers are urged to report to the city/provincial veterinary office or their municipal agricultural officers immediately if they observe that their animals are sick," read the advisory issued by DA-7 OIC Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Joel Elumba.

Apart from the Cebu City agriculture department that conducted its own assessment on the extent of damage that the cold weather condition has brought to upland farmers, the DA also sent its own team of veterinarians in barangays Sudlon 1 and Sudlon 2 to verify reports on animals of the cold.

The City Council's calamity declaration covers barangays Sudlon 1, Sudlon 2, Buot-Taup, Malubog, Tabunan, Bonbon, Lusaran, Adlaon, Sirao, Tagba-o, Taptap, Guba, Cambinocot, Paril, Budlaan, Pung-ol Sibugay, and Sinsin.

The DA-7 advised farmers to ensure that their animals are hydrated by giving them more water and protected from the unusually January cold temperature.

"Farmers should also practice the cut-and-carry feeding system in which forages are brought to the animals while they are temporarily put under the shed. Animals under stress, which could be due to extreme cold and soaking rain, could get sick," Elumba said.

The advisory further suggested that to prevent animals from getting sick, they must be fed with supplements with concentrates like "darak."

For additional information, farmers may directly get in touch with the DA-7 livestock section by calling (032) 268-9804. (FREEMAN)