Ky Son: Many buffaloes and cows died due to disease

(Baonghean.vn) - Being a purely agricultural commune, livestock farming is the main industry in the economic development strategy of Huu Lap commune (Ky Son). However, since October, an epidemic of anthrax has occurred in the commune, killing 66 buffaloes and cows.

Mr. Kha Van Duyen, from Xop Thang village, has nearly 30 years of experience raising buffalo and cows, with an annual herd of 8 to 10 animals. However, according to Mr. Duyen, there has never been a year when his family's buffalo and cows died as much as this year, with 3 buffaloes and 1 cow, including a male buffalo worth over 30 million VND, all due to septicemia.

Not only Mr. Duyen's family, recently in Xop Thang village, there have been 8 households with 13 buffaloes and cows that died due to septicemia. According to statistics, the whole Huu Lap commune has over 2,000 buffaloes and cows, but from the beginning of October until now, there have been 66 buffaloes and cows that have died, with 6/6 villages having buffaloes and cows infected with the disease. The most damaged are Noong O, Xop Thang and Xop Nhi villages.

Mr. Lu Van Muoi, Xop Thang village, is treating the remaining cattle. According to Mr. Muoi, before they died, the buffaloes and cows showed signs of thirst and swollen necks. Photo: Lu Phu

Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh - Vice Chairman of Huu Lap Commune People's Committee said: Foot and mouth disease and anthrax are currently occurring in the commune. The main reasons are, firstly, inadequate and untimely vaccination, because every year the locality receives support from the superiors for vaccination in the spring and autumn crops. However, in 2017, the vaccine supply was delayed, so cattle and buffaloes were not vaccinated in time. Second, people let their cattle graze freely, so controlling the disease is very difficult. Third, most people do not pay attention to cleaning barns and disinfecting, so epidemics can easily occur when conditions are favorable.

The practice of letting animals roam freely is one of the reasons causing difficulties in disease control in the area. Photo: Lu Phu

It can be seen that, in order to make livestock farming a key industry in economic development in the mountainous district of Ky Son, in addition to mobilizing people to build solid barns, develop grazing area planning, and plant grass to provide adequate food for livestock, vaccination and disease prevention work need to be given much attention.

To thoroughly vaccinate livestock with the right dosage and schedule, Ky Son district needs to quickly support enough vaccines. Along with that, each commune needs to build at least 1 veterinary medicine cabinet to serve the timely treatment of livestock and must improve the capacity of the grassroots veterinary system to diagnose and treat diseases as soon as they arise./.

Ngan Nga