Nagaland Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services (AH&VS) department issues advisory on swill feeding
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DIMAPUR — Following a request from Mercy For Animals India (MFA), the Directorate of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services (AH&VS), Nagaland, has issued a critical advisory addressed to all the district veterinary officers in the state to regulate the practice of feeding untreated food waste, or swill, to pigs in backyard and commercial farms.
In a press release, the MFA stated that the advisory issued to all the district veterinary officers directed them to refer to Mercy for Animal’s letter dated November 24, 2025, that included three key suggestions.
The MFA called for a ban on feeding untreated or unregulated food waste from hotels, canteens, and similar sources to pigs; mandate that pig farms follow only those feeding practices and diets recommended by veterinary departments, ICAR institutes, and recognised livestock research authorities.
Further, the department should instruct veterinary officers and livestock inspectors to monitor pig farms for compliance and raise awareness among farmers about safe and humane feeding practices.
It may be mentioned that Director of AH&VS, Dr. Imomanen Tzudir, in an advisory dated December 15, 2025, directed all the district veterinary officers to “ensure action is taken in your respective districts to raise awareness among the pig farmers” about possibility of disease spread such as African Swine Flu (ASF) and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), and about safe and humane feeding practices.
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“Stale, mold-infected, or highly contaminated components (high salt, high oil, chili) fed to pigs are not only detrimental to pigs’ digestive health but also public health” said Niharika Kapoor, organising specialist for Mercy For Animals India.
“It has been widely documented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH/OIE) that feeding food waste is a major vector for the spread of livestock diseases such as African Swine Fever (ASF) and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD),” Kapoor added.
Mercy For Animals India is a leading non-profit organisation dedicated to reducing the suffering and cruelty endured by animals raised for food and promoting a transition to plant-based eating.
“Mercy For Animals uses public policy advocacy, corporate campaigns, movement building, and public engagement to create a future in which animals are respected, protected, and free.
“With over 800 volunteers pan-India, Mercy For Animals is committed to achieving meaningful change for animals across the country,” the release stated.