Decline of Pigs in Shirak Province

In the Geghanist village of the Artik Region, there have been cases of pigs dying. In a pig farming enterprise, 120 pigs and piglets have died in the past two weeks. Following the alerts from residents and the village mayor, veterinarians have arrived in the village and indicated that the mass death of the animals could be a result of intestinal infections.

According to reports from shantnews.am, villagers are treating seemingly healthy pigs with medications based on the guidance of specialists, but it has not been possible to save infected piglets with low immunity. Reportedly, Volodya Ghazaryan started pig farming only three months ago, purchasing 40 piglets for 3 million drams through an agricultural loan. He had plans to expand his business, but after the recent events, he decided to halt the establishment of a livestock farm. In ten days, 25 out of 40 piglets have died.

“There have already been 20 losses. Currently, the mortality rate is about fifty percent,” Volodya Ghazaryan told the media. Over the past ten days, reports of pig deaths have increased, and the Ghazaryans later learned that they are not the only ones suffering losses in the village. The number of farms suffering significant losses has reached 15. In recent years, many people in Geghanist have started pig farming.

Even after medications and injections, the unidentified virus has not retreated. Following the mayor's warning, epidemiologists and food safety inspectors from the province have also visited Geghanist, but still, no precise or specific diagnosis of the disease has been established. Currently, the only suspected cause of the pig deaths is intestinal infection, rather than classical swine fever.

After determining the exact cause, the village mayor will appeal to the regional administration for assistance to subsidize the loan amounts for the affected farms. According to preliminary estimates, the damage amounts to 20 million drams.