SIBU: The number of pigs sent to the abattoir in Jalan Ding Lik Kong will be made public by the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) to counter recent allegations of pork shortages.

       SMC chairman Clarence Ting Ing Horh said this was one way to deal with the rumours of pork supply shortage in the district during the Chinese New Year celebration following the ban on pork delivery from Kuching.

       Ting, according to Bernama, said pigs were slaughtered at the abattoir from Wednesday to Sunday while pork was sold on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

       “Yesterday, a total of 242 pigs were slaughtered. This is a decrease of between 10% and 13% from the usual number before the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in Sibu,” Ting said in a statement here yesterday.

       Three pig farms in the district were reported to have been affected by ASF on Jan 10 and measures to curb the spread of the disease were taken by the Sarawak Veterinary Services Department.

       As a control and safety measure, the SMC has also temporarily closed its slaughterhouse to unlicensed pig farms.

       Normally, 20 out of 100 pigs slaughtered at the abattoir were from unlicensed pig farms.