Nghe An: Buffalo and cow prices 'fall' sharply but output is still 'blocked'

Currently, beef prices have dropped sharply, down to 60,000 - 70,000 VND/kg, causing farmers to suffer losses. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Since 2010, Mr. Vuong Van Hoan's family (Hamlet 7, Nghia Dong, Tan Ky) moved tofattening buffaloAt peak times, there are always 40 buffaloes in the barn. On average, if well cared for and with stable output, it can bring his family an income of hundreds of millions of dong each year. However, since the end of 2021, buffaloes have been sluggish, prices have dropped but they cannot be sold.

“Before Tet, the price of buffalo was at 100,000-110,000 VND/kg, a 600-700kg buffalo sold for 70-80 million VND. However, after Tet until now, the price of buffalo meat has dropped to 90,000 VND, then 80,000 VND and now only 70,000 VND. Each buffalo like that, "lost" 35 million VND. But even if I wanted to sell it, I couldn't because no one wanted to buy it. 20 buffaloes have passed the selling period and have been unsold for 7-8 months now,” said Mr. Vuong Van Hoan.

Buffalo meat prices also fell sharply. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Raising fattening cattle has always been the strength ofTan Ky district,Most of which are concentrated in the localities: Nghia Hoan, Nghia Dong, Nghia Binh... bringing a significant income to the people here.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Trung - Head of the Agriculture Department of Tan Ky district said: "The whole district has a total herd of over 52,000 buffaloes and cows, mainly raised by households, taking advantage of agricultural by-products and idle labor. Almost every household raises 2-3 buffaloes and cows; there are about 100 households raising fattened buffaloes and cows on industrial farms with small and medium scale of 20-100 cows.

On average, a litter every 6 months, 2 litters per year, brings a net profit of about 10 million VND/head for the breeder, if raising 20 heads, the income is about 200 million VND. However, in the past 2 years, especially from the end of 2021 until now, buffalo and cattle breeders have encountered difficulties due to lack of output, low prices, and many farms are losing money.

Dozens of overweight buffaloes cannot be sold because they have no place to sell them. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Nguyen Van Cong, owner of a fattening cattle farm in Hien Son (Do Luong) said: “The price of beef has “plummeted” from 110,000-120,000 VND/kg and now “hit rock bottom” at 55,000-60,000 VND/kg. In addition, no one is asking to buy it, so we have to slaughter it and sell it at retail in the markets. Currently, there are 10 overweight cows still in the barn that cannot be sold.”

The reason for thisbeef prices fallBut the difficulty in consumption is because for a long time, the output of beef cattle has mainly been exported to China through unofficial channels. Now, due to the Covid-19 epidemic, China has closed its border, so the cattle have no output, only a small amount is sold in the provincial market.

Increase green food to reduce livestock farming costs and limit losses. Photo: Thanh Phuc

According to the Provincial Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, currently, the total buffalo herd in the province is more than 268,256, and the cow herd is 503,386. In recent years, buffalo and cow breeding has developed steadily, bringing income to thousands of households in the province. Due to limited grazing land, in recent years, local breeders have focused on growing grass to develop buffalo and cow breeding in the form of fattening or semi-grazing. Compared to pig or poultry farming, the output of buffalo and cows is more stable, and the selling price fluctuates less.

However, since the end of 2021, the consumption of buffalo and cows has encountered many difficulties due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, while the selling price has decreased sharply compared to before, buffalo and cow fattening breeders have no profit, even incurring losses.

Increasing revenue from processing bio-fertilizer from cattle and buffalo waste. Photo: Thanh Phuc

In particular, most of the cattle consumed to China are sold through unofficial channels. Therefore, when the Covid-19 epidemic affected China, the border was closed, so the consumption of cattle encountered many difficulties; many cattle farms were ready to sell but could not sell.

Faced with the current difficult consumption situation, the authorities recommend that cattle and buffalo farmers continue to monitor the market and should not increase their herds at this time. When cattle and buffalo prices fall, farmers need to focus on implementing measures to adapt such as: changing their diet, fermenting agricultural by-products for food, increasing revenue from processing biofertilizers from cattle and buffalo waste, etc.

Meanwhile, the price of buffalo and beef at traditional markets has hardly decreased. Photo: Thanh Phuc

At the same time, there must be appropriate solutions to reduce the herd, not to reduce it so drastically that the supply is "broken", when the market recovers there will be nothing to sell. On the other hand, it is necessary to establish cooperative groups and links in livestock farming to avoid price pressure, and to connect consumption so as not to have a dead end. On the part of livestock farmers, it is hoped that the authorities and relevant sectors will pay attention and connect the market so that the consumption of buffalo and cows is more favorable and the selling price is more stable.