This study was conducted to determine the effect of climate change, i.e. warming, flooding, erosion, and typhoon on meat product food security in Sta. Cruz watershed. Three municipalities across the watershed were chosen, these are Sta. Cruz (10-20 masl), Liliw (21 to 470 masl) and Nagcarlan (above 480 masl), Courtesy call, secondary data, focused group discussion, and the structured survey was conducted in the three municipalities with two barangay each with a total of 160 farmers across the watershed from February to August 2014. A sample of 200-250 g feed, feces, meat, liver and feed ingredients were taken from randomly selected four farmers in Nagcarlan for heavy metal Cd assay using Atomic – Absorption Spectrophotometry – Flames (AAS-Flame) at Biotech, UPLB.
The results have shown that there were only 22.5% backyard livestock farmers. There were 58.3 and 22.2 % (sum 80.5%) livestock farmers that strongly agree and agree that climate change reduced the number of animals raised. The predominant livestock raised by farmers were cattle (11%), pigs (10%), native chicken (8%) and carabao (7%), with pigs raised across all elevations for economic reason; while chicken and carabao were raised for home use. Direct effects of climate change in pigs observed were respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. Expensive feed and medical cost were also observed. There was no effect on seasonal feed availability due to climate change. Based on projected demand and supply of the three municipalities for pork, beef, carabeef, and chicken, it was pork that is produced in excess, the rest are insufficient. Alarmingly, Cd was found present in feeds, feces, liver, whole meat and ground pork respectively with more than the tolerable limits (0.025 ppm). Data showed that the main sources of Cd were phosphorus-based, antioxidant, mineral and vitamin - premix ingredients. Therefore, it is recommended that expanded study of Cd in feed for all livestock and poultry must be accomplished, so that regulatory protocol for Cd must be implemented. Further backyard piggery farmers reduced their sizes of production because of diseases and high cost associated with climate change. Therefore it is also recommended that crossbred of exotic breed and native pigs (F1) should be promoted coupled with producing locally suitable feed with the local government providing the native boar in the village.
