Not being subjective, indifferent to the disease when re-breeding livestock

Recently, Long An has continuously appeared outbreaks of avian influenza, African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease on cows. This makes farmers worried, because this is the time when many breeders start to increase herds and re-herds to serve the Tet market.

People need to regularly monitor the health of their livestock

In Long An, there were 6 outbreaks of avian influenza, 9 outbreaks of African swine fever and 3 outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease on cows in districts of Tan Tru, Can Duoc, Chau Thanh, Ben Luc, Thu Thua, Thanh Hoa and Tan Hung.

According to the Department of Livestock, Animal Health and Fisheries of the province, presently, localities in the province not only focus on epidemic control, also accelerate the work of increasing and re-herding of cattle and poultry to meet food demand for Lunar New Year market is coming. However, with the complicated epidemic situation, the province's livestock industry requires livestock households to be cautious and proactive in cooperating with functional units in implementing measures to prevent and control epidemics, ensuring safety for livestock.

Can Duoc district currently has many farms, poultry raising families preparing supplies for Tet. Ms. Phan Thi Thanh Tuyen, living in Cau Chua hamlet, My Le commune, has been raising in the family style for nearly 10 years. Every year, near Tet, her family has increased by 2,000 chickens. However, this year, because the epidemic was complicated, she only added 500 chickens.

Ms. Tuyen said: “In addition to cleaning the barn, keeping the chickens warm, I always provide enough food and water to ensure quality, add vitamins, B-complex, digestive enzymes to increase the ability to absorb food to improve chicken's resistance. At the same time, I also fully vaccinate according to the regulations for livestock. Currently, my family has about 1,500 chickens that are growing steadily”.

Not only Mrs. Tuyen's family, but also many other livestock households in the area actively take measures to prevent and control diseases for livestock. Currently in Can Duoc district there are about 1.2 million cattle and poultry. According to the report of the Agriculture sector, since the beginning of November 2020, there have been 4 outbreaks of avian influenza A/H5N1, A/H5N6 in the communes of Long Dinh, Long Cang. Tan Lan, Phuoc Dong and an outbreak of food-and-mouth disease on cows in Long Cang commune. All infected cattle and poultry have been destroyed in accordance with the regulations of the specialized agency.

Director of Can Duoc District Agricultural Service Center - Nguyen Thi Cam Van informed: “Following the direction of the District People's Committee, the District Agricultural Service Center has vaccinated cattle and poultry in the epidemic area; At the same time, it mobilizes people to vaccinate cattle and poultry and to disinfect, disinfect barns, strengthen care, monitor the health of livestock, etc.”.

Raising pigs for nearly 10 years, Mr. Le Van Thao, living in Cau Ban hamlet, An Luc Long commune, Chau Thanh district, has always been proactive in preventing and controlling epidemics for livestock, especially during the complicated epidemic like nowadays. Currently, his family raises 50 pigs, of which, pork pigs account for nearly 80 percent, the rest are sows and piglets. Mr. Thao shared: “I put the criteria of prevention over treatment first, I am not subjective, neglect any disease in livestock. Since the beginning of breeding pig, my family has always followed industry recommendations that are fully vaccinated according to schedule and regularly sanitize and disinfect barns to minimize risks”.

Deputy Director of the Department of Livestock, Animal Health and Fisheries of the province - Duong Minh Phi said that every year, the total number of cattle and poultry and breeding density in the area increased at the end of the year. However, the risk of disease outbreaks in livestock and poultry is presently still very high. Because some small and odd slaughterhouses in the province have not been strictly managed; Breeders are still subjective in disease prevention and control; Some neighboring provinces and cities have resumed epidemic outbreaks; Weather abnormalities, creating conditions for pathogens to arise and spread.

In order to avoid epidemic diseases in cattle and poultry at the end of the year, Mr. Duong Minh Phi recommended localities in the province to absolutely not be subjective, neglect, to promote vaccination to create immunity for cattle and poultry, sanitation, decontamination, disinfection of barns and the surrounding environment. At the same time, the Department continues to coordinate with relevant agencies to inspect, control and strictly handle cases of illegal trading, transporting pigs and pig products.

“To reduce risks and ensure safety for livestock herds, the authorities recommend that farmers need to be fully vaccinated with vaccines, and breed in biosafety direction. Accordingly, in order to raise biosafety pigs, people need to comply with the requirements of barns, breeding animals, food, drinking water, care, veterinary hygiene, waste treatment and environmental protection. Besides, when a new herd or reared herd must strictly comply with the declaration with the local authority for timely support when an epidemic occurs"- Mr. Phi added.