The tragicomic story of DNA testing for cows.

DNA testing... for buffaloes and cows.

The People's Court of Tuong Duong District recently resolved a cattle dispute using DNA testing. According to the case file, Mr. Lo Van Thuong (born in 1963) and Ms. La Thi On (born in 1981), both residing in Yen Hop village, Yen Hoa commune, claimed that a three-year-old female cow, valued at approximately 5 million VND, was born from a mother cow in their respective herds. However, due to the lack of specific identifying marks, neither party could prove ownership through conventional means.

The People's Committee of Yen Hoa commune had repeatedly attempted mediation, but without success. Mr. Thuong then submitted a petition requesting court intervention. Considering the complexity of the case, the People's Court of Tuong Duong district decided to conduct DNA testing to determine the blood relationship between the disputed cow and samples from the mother cow provided by both parties. The sample collection process was conducted publicly, under the supervision of the District People's Procuracy and other relevant agencies.

Results from the National Institute of Animal Husbandry (under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) show that the disputed cow belongs to Ms. La Thi On's household. Mr. Moong Cong Hai, Chief Judge of the People's Court of Tuong Duong District, stated: DNA testing ensures objectivity and scientific rigor in resolving property disputes involving buffaloes and cows. Based on the results of the National Institute of Animal Husbandry's assessment, the Court has decided to return the disputed cow to Ms. La Thi On's family. Simultaneously, Mr. Lo Van Thuong must bear all testing costs as previously agreed. The plaintiff has also withdrawn the lawsuit regarding the property dispute. According to the agreement, Mr. Thuong must pay up to 7.8 million VND, including on-site appraisal and DNA testing costs, exceeding even the value of the disputed cow.

For example, recently, the People's Court of Quy Hop District, in coordination with specialized agencies, conducted DNA testing to settle a dispute over the ownership of a buffalo.

Specifically, Mr. Vi Van Thanh sold a male buffalo to Mr. Ha Van Danh's younger brother for 17 million VND. However, Mr. Danh claimed the buffalo belonged to him and refused the sale. After repeatedly requesting the Chau Thanh Commune People's Committee to intervene without a resolution, Mr. Thanh filed a lawsuit in court.

Mr. Dao Van Dat, Chief Judge of the Quy Hop District People's Court, stated: During the investigation, Mr. Thanh claimed that the disputed buffalo was born from a mother buffalo in his family, and that his family is still raising this mother buffalo. He therefore requested the Court to conduct a DNA test between the mother buffalo and the disputed buffalo. The Quy Hop District People's Court intervened and collected DNA samples for testing. The results showed that the mother buffalo, as stated by Mr. Thanh, is indeed related to the disputed buffalo by blood – that is, they are biological mother and child. Based on this, the Court determined that Mr. Vi Van Thanh is the legal owner of the buffalo.

We need to change the practice of free-range grazing.

One of the main reasons for disputes over cattle, sometimes even requiring DNA testing to determine ownership, stems from the long-standing practice of free-range grazing among ethnic minorities in mountainous regions.

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Due to the vast terrain, sparse population, and natural farming practices, many households often let their buffalo and cattle roam freely in the forests and fields for days without supervision or specific identification methods. Therefore, confusion between different herds of livestock is very common. In many cases, because there are no clear distinguishing marks, households cannot prove ownership and are forced to resort to DNA testing – a complex and expensive process that affects community relations and creates unnecessary conflicts.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Phong - Chief Judge of the People's Court of Que Phong District

In fact, the practice of letting cattle roam freely has led to many complex incidents related to security and public order. For example, in Quy Chau and Que Phong districts, a group of individuals took advantage of free grazing in the forest to steal cattle, then sold them to the owner of a slaughterhouse. In a short period, this group successfully carried out 8 thefts, stealing 9 cattle with a total value of over 170 million VND.

For example, in Con Cuong district, a group of individuals violently used knives to cut down nearly 1,000 acacia trees belonging to two households in the area due to a dispute over cattle grazing. This act of revenge, which involved the destruction of property, not only caused significant economic losses but also escalated the conflict between the families.

According to Mr. Dang Van Vien, Chairman of Yen Hoa commune (Tuong Duong district), allowing buffaloes and cows to roam freely not only creates difficulties in property management but also gives rise to many negative consequences. Mixed herds of buffaloes and cows easily lead to disputes and theft; many incidents require legal intervention. "Although no specific cases have been recorded in our commune, in many other places, minor conflicts over grazing can escalate into acts of retaliation, property damage, and disruption of public order," Mr. Vien stated.

Therefore, to avoid unnecessary disputes, and even the need for DNA testing to identify cattle—a costly, time-consuming process that also affects community relations—people need to change their livestock farming habits, especially abandoning the practice of free-range grazing. Allowing cattle to roam freely not only easily leads to confusion and loss but can also damage other people's crops, cause conflicts, or be exploited by thieves.

A practical solution is for people to raise livestock in a controlled manner, such as keeping them in enclosures or allowing them to graze in fenced areas with caretakers. At the same time, they should proactively identify their animals using simple methods such as ear tags, colored cloth ties, or unique markings on the bodies of buffalo and cattle. These measures are easy to implement, cost-effective, and facilitate easy identification in case of incidents, avoiding the need for expensive DNA testing. When people change their mindset about livestock farming and proactively manage their herds, it will reduce disease outbreaks, prevent theft, and maintain harmony within the community. This is a sustainable approach and suitable for the current conditions in localities, especially mountainous areas.