According to the Globalnation-Inquirer, data from the animals slaughtered at the Cebu City abattoir indicate ashift of customers away from pork.

Dr Utlang said that in the first quarter of the year, the number of slaughtered chicken reached 175,711 compared to last year's 52,908. Goat slaughtered at the abattoir also increased from January to March this year from 6,357 to 9,185.

Less hogs were slaughtered at the abattoir in the same period this year with 21,277 hogs compared to last year's 25,446 hogs.

Utlang said lechon (roasted pig) dealers told her that most of their hog suppliers shifted some of their supply to Manila, which is experiencing a scarcity of pork after hog farms in Bulacan, the biggest supplier of hogs in Metro Manila, were affected by hog cholera.