RSOE Emergency and Disaster Information Service

2010-03-14 04:25:44 - Heat Wave - Philippines

EDIS CODE: HT-20100314-25320-PHL
Date & Time: 2010-03-14 04:25:44 [UTC]
Area: Philippines, Province of Cebu, , Cebu City

Damage level: Moderate (Level 2)

Not confirmed information!

Description:

At least 200 chickens have died in Barangay Talamban, Cebu City due to the intense heat brought by the El Nino phenomenon. City veterinarians said animals also experience heat stroke like humans. Poultry owner Dennis Cominade said he used to own 4,000 hens. But the number dwindled this month to 3,000. Last March 5, 200 of his chickens started dying while he rest showed signs of being weak. Since he started his poultry three years ago, Cominade said this was the first time he experienced hundreds of his chickens dying and getting weak. “They just suddenly collapse,” said Cominade. Cebu City Veterinarian Dr. Alice Utlang said they inspected the poultry after Cominade reported the unusual death of his chickens. But Utlang said the incident was normal because like humans, animals also have their own limitations to heat. Utlang said that after inspecting the poultry, she noticed that the roof was too low and the ceiling was made of metal. She said such poultry design could not prevent the heat of El Nino from affecting the chickens even if it has exhaust fans.

Utlang advised Cominade to re-design his poultry barn to protect the chickens from any kind of weather. Chickens can only withstand temperatures of 12-26 degrees Celsius. Cominade admitted that the intense heat had affected his business. He used to get 100-110 trays of eggs a day which he sells to customers but this has dropped to 80 trays a day. To enable them to withstand the heat, he gave his chickens vitamins and put them in medication for three days. His pigs are also getting weak as a result of El Niño. He has 20 sow and 40 piglets. Cominade said he had to add more exhaust fans in his pigpen. Utlang says that pigs are more sensitive to heat. They can only tolerate around 25 degrees Celsius of heat. There is even a law, Republic Act 8485 that stipulates rules on the transport pigs. Because they cannot withstand heat, they should be transported only up to 10 a.m. in a covered vehicle. Utlang said that even dogs cannot tolerate high temperatures. Dogs like humans get easily irritated when they feel hot and tend to bite people.

Posted:2010-03-14 04:25:44 [UTC]