Cattle prices drop sharply, causing big losses for farmers in mountainous areas

(Baonghean.vn) -Recently, the price of buffalo and cattle in the mountainous districts of Nghe An has decreased sharply, causing great losses to breeders.

The herd of cows of Mr. Lau Chong Tua's family, Truong Son village, Nam Can commune, Ky Son district. Photo: Ho Phuong

Compared to previous years, this year the price of buffalo and cows in mountainous areas has dropped dramatically. Currently, buffalo and cow farmers are losing 2-4 million VND/head; in some places, the loss is up to 5-6 million VND/head.

The fall in cattle and buffalo prices is causing heavy losses to farmers in the mountainous areas of Nghe An. Mr. Lau Chong Tua, resident of Truong Son village, Nam Can commune (Ky Son) said that last year, his family raised nearly 200 cattle and buffalo, of which nearly 170 were cows. Earlier this year, he sold more than 30 to take care of his family. "Because of some work, I had to sell, otherwise the price of cows this year would have caused a loss of nearly 100 million VND," said Mr. Tua.

Raising buffalo in Nam Can commune, Ky Son district. Photo: Ho Phuong.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Due, Bai So village, Tam Quang commune (Tuong Duong) often buys male calves to take care of and sell as draft animals. In 2016, he bought 5 male calves to take care of. This year, the herd has grown and he wants to sell them, but because the price is too low, "If I sell, I will lose nearly 5 million VND per calf. I have to try to take care of them for a while longer and wait for the price to increase before selling them," said Mr. Due.

Mr. Lo Van Xuan - Head of Pieng Pho village, Pha Danh commune (Ky Son) shared that in mountainous areas, the development of buffalo and cow farming is suitable for both the terrain conditions and the farming traditions of the people. "Although the price of cows is lower than other years, people here will not choose another way of doing business, because buffalo and cow farming is the main economic development direction of the village" - Mr. Xuan said.

Ky Son is one of the localities with the largest number of buffalo and cows in the mountainous districts of Nghe An, with more than 65,500 heads, of which 6,200 are buffaloes. The number of buffalo and cows in this poor district is increasing rapidly. Not only that, the quality of beef and commercial buffalo in Ky Son has been affirmed in recent times. However, the sharp decrease in buffalo and cow prices is affecting the stability of livestock farming here.

Ho Phuong