Cattle prices have risen slightly, but farmers are still not enthusiastic.

Prices increased slightly at the wholesale market.

According to observations at Ú Market - the largest buffalo and cattle wholesale market in the North Central region, located in Dai Son commune, Do Luong district (Nghe An province), on the trading session of the 6th day of the 5th lunar month, the wholesale price of buffalo and cattle increased by about 1 million VND/animal compared to the previous market session.

According to Mr. Le Van Duong, a long-time cattle trader residing in Dai Son commune, this is the third time in about two consecutive U market sessions that wholesale prices for cattle have slightly increased. Specifically, buffalo prices are 58-60 thousand VND/kg live weight, equivalent to about 22-30 million VND/animal depending on the condition of each animal; cattle prices are 70-72 thousand VND/kg live weight, equivalent to about 18-25 million VND/animal. At each market session, Mr. Duong trades about 100-200 animals, mainly cattle. "I buy and sell cattle from southern provinces to Nghe An, mainly Phu Yen, and import them according to orders for northern provinces, supplying slaughterhouses and restaurants," Mr. Duong said.

In Dai Son commune, besides the Ú market which is held on the 1st, 6th, 11th, 16th, 21st, and 26th of each lunar month, daily trading also takes place at households specializing in cattle trading, concentrated in hamlets 1 and 2.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Than, residing in Hamlet 2, has been working as a "logistics" provider at U Market for decades. On days when the market is closed, she offers a service caring for buffaloes and cows in her garden.

"When cattle traders bring in their goods, they usually stay for half a day to about one or two days before transporting the goods. During that time, those who don't have enough shelters to temporarily keep the animals will hire care services, including shelter and feeding. In some cases, if the cattle get sick, or even become ill, the care will last longer," Ms. Than said.

According to cattle traders in Dai Son commune, before the COVID-19 pandemic, most traders regularly bought cattle from the western districts of Nghe An province (mainly Ky Son, Tuong Duong, and Que Phong) and sold them to Laos. However, since 2020, many cattle traders have gradually abandoned the highland market. The reasons include the lockdown due to the pandemic, which disrupted import routes to Laos; partly because cattle prices have dropped sharply, leaving traders with no profit, while farmers are reluctant to sell. In addition, the long distances, difficult transportation, and rising fuel prices have also increased transportation costs.

According to traders, the domestic market for buffalo and cattle is currently facing difficulties due to price competition from buffalo and cattle imported mainly from Thailand, which are cheaper than domestic products.

Highland livestock farmers are not increasing their herds.

The main source of income for Mr. Lau Giong Chua's family in Tien Tieu village, Nam Can commune (Ky Son district) is cattle farming. Mr. Chua said that before 2019, his family maintained a herd of about 30 cattle, selling them at an average price of 25 million VND per animal, generating an income of approximately 200 million VND per year. However, since the ban on cross-border cattle trading between Vietnam and Laos, cattle prices have plummeted, sometimes falling to only 15-16 million VND per animal. As a result, he and other cattle farmers have stopped increasing their herds; they also don't want to sell their cattle except when they need money urgently.

Mr. Ho Ba Po, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Nam Can commune, also affirmed that in previous years, raising large livestock was the spearhead of economic development for the people here. “At that time, almost every day there were large trucks from traders from the lowlands coming to households to buy cattle. The entire Nam Can commune had a total herd of over 3000 buffalo and cattle, with even the smallest households raising 5-10 animals, and the livestock were regularly replenished, making the people very happy. But for about three years now, most households have stopped increasing their herds and are only raising livestock on a limited scale because prices have dropped, and traders have significantly reduced the number of animals they come to buy. Sometimes, they don't come to buy cattle for a whole month, especially from May until now,” Mr. Po confided.

Furthermore, Mr. Ho Ba Po stated that from the end of May to the beginning of June 2024, there was an outbreak of cattle disease in localities in Laos that share a border with Nam Can, so trade between the two sides was further restricted, and virtually non-existent for the past month.

Similarly to Nam Can, in Muong Long commune, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee Vu Ba Xu said that for several years now, people in Muong Long have not increased their buffalo and cattle herds, and have even reduced or switched to raising black chickens. The price of buffalo and cattle has not increased since the beginning of the year; even the largest, fattest fighting bulls only sell for about 35 million VND/animal, unlike before when some fighting bulls sold for 60 to 80 million VND/animal. Ordinary cattle, which used to sell for around 25-30 million VND/animal, have only been bought by traders for 15-17 million VND/animal in recent years. Furthermore, the frequency of traders coming to Muong Long to buy cattle has also decreased significantly.

"Previously, traders from Do Luong and Thanh Chuong used to come here to buy buffaloes and cows regularly, every 2-3 days. Now, sometimes we don't see them come to buy for half a month," Mr. Xu said.

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Livestock farming is a key economic sector in Ky Son district as well as other western districts. The stagnation in buffalo and cattle prices, coupled with the cautious approach of livestock farmers, has significantly impacted socio-economic development in the area. As of the first quarter of 2024, Ky Son district had a total buffalo herd of approximately 11,700 head, equivalent to 90% of the same period last year; and a cattle herd of approximately 45,200 head, equivalent to 95% of the same period last year.

Currently, with the hot weather, to prevent damage to livestock and poultry, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine is guiding localities to implement measures to protect livestock from the heat and to promote vaccination according to regulations.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nghe An province currently has the largest buffalo and cattle population in the country, exceeding 800,000 head. In 2023, Nghe An's livestock industry developed in line with the restructuring plan, gradually shifting from small-scale, scattered farming to concentrated farm-based production. Several livestock farming areas and facilities have now been established along the value chain.