Kidapawan hogs, cattle die due to heat stroke
AGRICULTURE • 16:33 PM Thu Mar 12, 2015
3,246
By:
Willamor Magbanua
KIDAPAWAN
CITY — Farm animals have died and newly planted
rice and corn have been wilted as temperature rises up to 31 degree Celsius
in North Cotabato over the weekend.
Dr. Eugene Gornez, Kidapawan City veterinarian, confirmed the deaths of hogs as well as large cattle in the
remote villages here due to exposure to the scourging heat.
He
said at least seven pigs and a cow have died last week due to heat stroke.
Gornez also received reports that several puppies and dogs have also died due
to heat stroke and 'parbo' virus which usually happened during dry season.
This
is very alarming especially that we are still in the first quarter of the year yet numerous
animals have been affected and died, Gornez said.
He encouraged constituents and villagers to avoid pasturing
their farm animals in an open field to prevent heat stroke.
He
also urged the owner to always give enough drinking water to farm
animals to avoid dehydration and heat stroke.
If
possible look for a place which your animals can feel comfortable likes the
shades of the trees to avoid the severe heat of the sun especially during noon
time,” Dr. Gornez said.
Meanwhile, vast rice fields beside the Kidapawan-Cotabato highway have dried up since most of these fields are rain-dependent. Rice
fields cracks and corn plantations wilted due to heat,” a senior agriculture
technician said.
The
city agriculture’s office, however, instructed the farmers who are dependent to
rain as source of water system to shift to other crops that can survive even
during the dry season.
Similar
situations can also be seen in the adjoining towns of Mlang, Tulunan, Matalam and Kabacan, towns considered as the rice granary of North Cotabato.