At this time, cooperatives, cooperative groups, and farming households in the province are focusing on taking care of livestock to have more livestock and poultry meat products to serve consumer demand, which is expected to increase before, during, and after the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin 2024.

Mr. Le Duc Quang Huy's herd of pigs in Lai Binh village, Vinh Chap commune, Vinh Linh is preparing to sell to the market - Photo: TU LINH

Four months ago, Mr. Le Duc Quang Huy in Lai Binh village, Vinh Chap commune, Vinh Linh district re-raised 300 pigs and 1,000 chickens. Thanks to organic farming, strict control of feed sources and full vaccination, his livestock has grown well and has not been affected by the epidemic. These days, Mr. Huy has received many orders to buy pigs and chickens to prepare for the 2024 Lunar New Year. Currently, 300 of his pigs have been ordered by traders.

As for chickens, Mr. Huy classifies and sells them according to consumer demand, including fresh meat chickens, cleaned meat chickens, and whole chickens. Mr. Huy is one of 26 members of the Tay Son Clean Agriculture Cooperative in Vinh Chap Commune, Vinh Linh District. Each year, this cooperative sells about 100 tons of fresh pork and tens of thousands of chickens. To prepare for the Tet market, the cooperative has doubled its livestock production.

As one of the localities with a large herd of livestock and poultry, Vice Chairman of Hai Lang District People's Committee Duong Viet Hai said that in order to prepare the supply to serve the Tet market, from September 2023, the district has directed communes and towns to guide people in orienting the development of livestock and the number of herds according to forecast market demand, avoiding massive herd restoration.

At the same time, implement disease prevention measures for livestock and poultry, and vaccinate according to regulations. Local breeders flexibly utilize available agricultural products and by-products to reduce costs, as well as not using banned substances in breeding, ensuring the quality of livestock products when sold.

Currently, farms and livestock households in Hai Lang district have prepared livestock and poultry to supply the market before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2024.

According to Nguyen Trung Hau, Head of the Provincial Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, livestock production in 2023 will face many difficulties due to fluctuations in the price of animal feed products. Along with that, there will be outbreaks of diseases in livestock and poultry at the end of the year.

However, after more than 2 months, thanks to the active implementation of prevention and control measures, the African swine fever situation in the province is now gradually being well controlled. By the end of 2023, 14 communes, wards and towns have gone 21 days without any new outbreaks of sick pigs. There are 3 districts: Dakrong, Huong Hoa, Cam Lo and Dong Ha city that are free of the epidemic.

Overcoming difficulties, the province's livestock herd in 2023 increased in quantity and quality. In particular, the output of fresh meat for slaughter in 2023 reached more than 59,083 tons.

The province has 697 livestock and poultry farms, of which more than 70 farms are developing in a joint model with enterprises applying high technology to pig farming. The total number of pigs raised on farms accounts for 57% of the province's total pig herd.

According to Mr. Hau, livestock production in the province supplies the market with about 5,000 tons of meat every month.

It is expected that during the upcoming Tet holiday, the demand for livestock and poultry meat will increase. Although the African swine fever epidemic has damaged the pig herd, according to the authorities, the supply of pork is completely sufficient to meet the needs of people in the province, in addition to supplying other markets. Currently, the price of live pigs is fluctuating at 50,000 VND/kg.

At this price, farmers are breaking even or making very low profits. Mr. Hau said that the epidemic in livestock and poultry is being well controlled; the market is preparing for Tet and starting to increase the consumption of goods, hoping that farmers will be able to sell pork and poultry at higher prices to make a profit.

In addition, to ensure food safety before, during and after the Lunar New Year, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine has directed specialized departments, animal husbandry and veterinary stations to coordinate with localities to strengthen the quarantine of livestock and poultry; regularly inspect slaughterhouses, processing, preserving and trading animal products, promptly detect and strictly handle violations to ensure the quality of meat supplied to the market...

On the other hand, the department also promotes propaganda for livestock production facilities to comply with food safety and hygiene, always uphold the spirit of disease prevention and control, and implement comprehensive technical measures on biosafety in livestock farming.

Mobilize people not to participate in or assist in the trading of sick pigs, dead pigs, and smuggled pigs; promptly report violations to authorities for inspection and handling according to regulations.

“The end of the lunar year often has severe cold spells that affect the growth of livestock.

Therefore, livestock farmers need to balance nutritious and mineral-rich foods to increase the resistance of livestock; actively implement disease prevention measures for livestock and poultry to ensure meat supply for the Tet market," Mr. Hau recommended.

Tu Linh