Ky Son proactively prevents cold for livestock before winter

(Baonghean.vn) - During the historic cold spell in early 2016, Ky Son was one of the districts that suffered heavy damage with over 935 livestock dead, mainly buffaloes and cows of people in highland communes such as Muong Long, Na Loi, Keng Du, Doc May... In order to minimize the damage that cold weather can cause to livestock, Ky Son district has directed localities to strengthen measures to prevent hunger and cold for livestock in the upcoming winter.

» Heavy snowfall in Nghe An, buffaloes and cows die en masse

Mr. Vu No Denh, Muong Long 1 Village, Muong Long Commune, is opening the tarpaulin to cover the barn.

Mr. Vu No Denh, Muong Long 1 village, Muong Long commune, has started to renovate his family's cattle barn to confine nearly 10 buffaloes and cows that his family is grazing in the forest. Mr. Denh said: The cold spell in January of the year killed many buffaloes and cows of the villagers as well as his family. Learning from experience, this year after harvesting the crop, Mr. Denh herded the buffaloes back to confine them, actively planted more grass areas, in case there is grass for the buffaloes and cows to eat in the winter.

“Every year in October and November of the lunar calendar, we sell off the fattened cows to make room to raise the cows that are released into the forest, take care of them, and feed them more grass, salt, corn, and cassava so they don’t die in the cold weather,” Vu No Denh shared.

People are practicing fermenting food reserves for livestock.

As a highland commune, with an altitude of over 1,500 m above sea level, the temperature in Muong Long commune is quite low, often experiencing severe cold in the winter. This is one of the reasons why many livestock die.

Mr. Vu Ba Lenh - Vice Chairman of Muong Long Commune People's Committee said: "In the winter of last year, 83 cattle died in the commune due to the cold. To minimize damage, from the beginning of this cold season, the Commune People's Committee actively propagated and mobilized people to proactively prevent hunger and cold for livestock by measures such as gathering livestock to care for and building solid barns, covering with tarpaulins, and storing firewood for heating when cold and frost appear."

The model of processing silage for livestock feed was piloted by the Ky Son Agricultural Extension Station in Xop Lau village, Muong Ai commune. With 5 households and over 40 buffaloes and cows participating in the experimental model. In the photo: Agricultural extension officers instruct people on how to use grass cutters for buffaloes and cows before the cold season.

According to statistics from the People's Committee of Ky Son district, the total herd of livestock and poultry is nearly 200,000, including over 60,000 buffaloes, cows, and goats; 35,000 pigs and tens of thousands of poultry. To maintain a stable number of livestock and poultry in cold weather, functional units are continuing to guide and propagate to households to implement many measures to prevent cold and protect livestock.

Livestock farmers in Ky Son have begun bringing their cattle home to keep them safe from the cold.

Buffaloes and cows are a large asset, so people's awareness of protecting, caring for, storing food, and preventing cold in winter has been raised. Right during the harvest season, the district has stepped up its efforts to encourage and educate people to care for, protect, and develop the area of ​​pasture.

From May to October last year,Ky Son Agricultural Extension Station has piloted a feed processing model in Xop Lau village, Muong Ai commune with 5 households and over 40 buffaloes and cows participating in the experimental model. After 5 months of implementation, households participating in the model were supported with techniques and materials such as: grass choppers, urea fertilizer, molasses, salt, rice bran, plastic bags for composting feed... In addition, participating households were also instructed on techniques for growing raw grass (elephant grass VA06), feed mixing techniques, and the proportions of ingredients used for mixing...

Lu Phu