(Please read "61,700 pigs" in the headline)

The number of destroyed pigs at the Kalita agricultural complex in Kyiv region since the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) has reached 61,700 animals, the State Veterinary and Biosecurity Service of Ukraine reported.

The watchdog says it controls the situation at the farm.

"According to latest reports, all the necessary veterinary and biosecurity measures were taken to bloodlessly kill and dispose of 61,700 pigs. Measures to destroy the pigs in keeping with ASF prevention and control protocols will take place today and tomorrow," the State Veterinary and Biosecurity Service said on Monday, quoting its deputy head Oleksandr Verzhikhovsky.

The complex of biosecurity and disinfection measures includes mechanical cleaning of premises, cleanup, disinfection and incineration of wooden coating layers and low-value inventory. In addition, a layer of soil will be removed from territory of the entire farm and will be mixed with bleach, he said.

"All these measures will require considerable human and material resources," Verzhikhovsky said.

An ASF outbreak at the Kalita farm was registered on July 28, 2015. Its pig livestock exceeded 60,000 animals. The farm estimates its losses at about UAH 200 million. This is the first ASF outbreak at an agribusiness.

Since 2013, there have been 32 ASF cases: 16 cases were reported by privately owned small farms and 16 were wild boars. Geographically, the cases were reported in Zaporizhia, Luhansk, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Rivne regions.