Proactive measures to protect livestock from hunger and cold.
(Baonghean)According to forecasts, from now until the Lunar New Year of the Snake, Central and Northern Vietnam will experience several prolonged periods of intense cold. During the recent and current cold spells, despite directives and public awareness campaigns, some localities and individuals in our province have not been proactive in protecting livestock and poultry from the cold... From this point onward, decisive action is needed in preventing hunger and cold for livestock.
Yen Thanh is a predominantly agricultural district, where buffaloes and cattle are the main tools for plowing and are valuable assets for farmers. Therefore, ensuring the safety of buffalo and cattle herds during the harsh winter months is a critical task for the local Party committee, government, and people.
Every year, as the cold winter winds arrive, the family of Mr. Thai Van Hung in Hamlet 8, My Thanh Commune, Yen Thanh District, is busy repairing and sheltering their buffaloes, stockpiling straw and other feed for them. For nearly a week now, the weather has changed, with cold rain, so instead of letting the buffaloes graze in the forest until evening as usual, he has proactively kept them confined, sheltered them, added straw mats, and fed them with the feed his family has prepared. He explained: "To proactively protect them from the cold this winter, firstly, the shelters must be covered and tarpaulined to keep them warm. Secondly, we must have sufficient feed and straw. Thirdly, we must provide fresh feed; on cold days, we don't let the animals graze outside but instead feed them powdered feed, such as ground corn mixed with bran, to give them enough strength to withstand the cold." Mr. Pham Xuan Ky, from Hamlet 1, Bao Thanh Commune, said: "Besides raising buffaloes for plowing, my family also raises 7 cows. Therefore, to proactively protect against the cold, shelter the barns, and always have sufficient feed in the form of straw, my family needs to utilize the edges of the garden to grow grass to supplement fresh feed. At night, we check and remove garbage and straw to use as bedding to keep the cows warm."
In the face of complex weather conditions, including severe cold spells, Yen Thanh district proactively developed plans and intensified propaganda and mobilization efforts to strengthen measures to protect cattle from the cold. At the beginning of December 2012, during the spring crop production planning conference for 2013, the District People's Committee emphasized the importance of proactively implementing measures to prevent hunger and cold for cattle, such as reinforcing livestock shelters to ensure hygiene and adequate conditions for protection against hunger, cold, and disease; and proactively using agricultural by-products as feed reserves for cattle herds during the winter. In addition, the district directed the veterinary station, relevant departments, and the 39 communes and towns to advise and urge farmers to strictly adhere to livestock farming principles, ensure complete vaccination, bring cattle back to shelters, provide guidance on sheltering, and teach methods for ensiling feed, caring for, and preventing diseases in cattle herds during the severe cold spells. Mr. Nguyen Khac Minh, Head of the Veterinary Station of Yen Thanh District, advised: To proactively protect buffaloes and cattle from the cold, the commune has recommended the following measures to the people: cover barns with warm, enclosed shelters; if the temperature drops below 15 degrees Celsius, burn firewood for the buffaloes and cattle to warm themselves; give them warm water and salt to drink; and do not let them go out to the fields to plow or harrow when the temperature drops below 20 degrees Celsius.
As a mountainous district, Tuong Duong has a long-standing tradition of free-range buffalo and cattle farming. Therefore, during the cold season, almost every year, the district experiences significant losses of buffalo and cattle in the forests. Mr. Hoang Sy Thin, Head of the District's Agriculture Department, stated: The district has over 10,000 buffalo and over 23,000 cattle, most of which are free-range. Learning from previous years' experiences, since the beginning of November 2012, the district has issued a directive to communes, instructing them to prepare temporary shelters and to educate people to absolutely refrain from free-range grazing during cold days when temperatures drop below 16°C. However, due to the practice of free-range farming, people are largely unaware of the need to proactively stockpile feed, resulting in frequent food shortages for the buffalo and cattle. Consequently, the annual losses due to cold and hunger in the district are quite substantial. During the 2010-2011 winter-spring season, 262 head of livestock died in the entire district, and in the 2011-2012 winter-spring season, 14 head died.
Keep buffalo and cattle warm and stock up on dry feed during cold weather.
Identifying and preventing cold and hunger for livestock is a matter that requires utmost proactive action. Since the beginning of October, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued directives and urged action on this issue. Currently, the department has formed a team, scheduled to conduct inspections and monitor implementation in localities from January 10-25, 2013, and provide necessary guidance and support. Mr. Luu Cong Hoa, Head of the Livestock Department (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development), stated: The province has directed the Steering Committee for the Prevention and Control of Livestock and Poultry Diseases from the district, city, town, and ward levels to organize the implementation of tasks related to disease prevention and cold and hunger for livestock and poultry in the area. Simultaneously, teams have been formed, and officials have been sent to villages and households to inspect, guide, and provide technical advice on care and feeding, as well as measures to prevent cold and hunger for livestock.
Currently, in lowland districts, since cattle are valuable assets, farmers are doing a good job of protecting their livestock from the cold. However, in mountainous areas, this issue still faces many shortcomings. Relevant departments and local authorities, especially at the commune level, need to focus on disseminating information and mobilizing people to build shelters for livestock during cold days, and not to let livestock roam freely in the forest. At the same time, they should prepare sufficient materials to keep livestock warm when needed, such as making coats, and preparing rice husks and firewood to burn for warmth on cold, foggy nights. In particular, during prolonged periods of rain and cold weather, and days with temperatures below 12°C, absolutely no use of cattle for plowing or grazing in fields or pastures should be allowed. Cattle should be given supplemental feed, warm water, and kept in shelters for supervision. They should also be given supplemental roughage, minerals, and vitamins to improve their health.
In addition, local authorities need to pay attention and provide timely information on weather and climate to livestock farmers, disseminating specific and timely techniques for care, feeding, and protection against cold weather so that people can easily apply them. In particular, the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level must direct the veterinary committee and the village/hamlet committee to strengthen inspection and monitoring of the health and disease outbreaks in livestock and poultry; promptly detect and handle any signs of exhaustion due to hunger, cold, or disease. Local organizations and associations should be encouraged to participate in disease surveillance, report outbreaks promptly, and not conceal any outbreaks. Local authorities should send officials to villages and households to guide and provide measures to protect livestock from hunger and cold. Strengthen inspection and monitoring to detect diseases and cattle collapses, promptly handle any outbreaks or collapses caused by prolonged cold weather, and report to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development as required.
Phu Huong – Anh Tuan (Collaborator)
