The indigenous black pig breed in Ky Son is at risk of extinction.

The "white" version of the native black pig

In late June, the scorching heat in Ta Ca commune, Ky Son border district, made life even more difficult in many villages. Mr. Hoa Van Quyet, head of Sa Vang village in Ta Ca commune, said that the village not only faced difficulties with water sources, but also suffered losses in livestock farming and crop cultivation due to the harsh weather.

“This year’s spring rice crop in Sa Vang village has yielded poor results and decreased in planted area. However, the most significant impact is that the village is now almost completely wiped out by the loss of its native black pig breed,” Mr. Quyet worried.

Mr. Quyet said that the native black pig breed in Ta Ca commune in particular, and in Ky Son district in general, is quite small and takes a long time to grow, but the meat quality is far superior to other pig breeds. "Native black pigs are mainly raised free-range around the production area. Some households raise them in confinement, but their main food is still vegetables, grass, and various seeds and tubers like cassava and corn... so it takes a whole year to raise them before they can be sold."

Ms. Moong Thi Mun, a household that previously specialized in raising indigenous black pigs, also expressed that in the past, every household in Sa Vang village raised pigs to have food for the Lunar New Year. However, for more than half a year now, since the end of 2022, the number of indigenous black pigs in Sa Vang village can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

When asked for the reason, Mrs. Mun replied, "Due to disease." Adding further details, village head Hoa Van Quyet explained that the African swine fever outbreak at the end of 2022 had almost wiped out the black pig population of Sa Vang village. In addition, in recent years, the weather has been unpredictable, alternating between scorching heat and freezing temperatures, and flash floods have caused many livestock deaths. Furthermore, the custom of letting buffalo, cattle, and pigs roam freely has also contributed to the decline in the villagers' pig population.

Mr. Quyet's family alone lost nearly 20 pigs, leaving their pens empty. Many households in Sa Vang village are facing a similar situation. Mr. Quyet added that out of more than 80 households in the village, almost everyone used to raise native black pigs, but now only two households still have about five native black pigs left. In 2023, outbreaks of disease among pigs continued sporadically, and the risk remains high. These households are working hard to care for their pigs, worrying about them getting sick and dying, and also about the possibility of them failing to reproduce, which would lead to the complete loss of the native black pig breed.

Moong Văn Đào, an official from the Fatherland Front of Tà Cạ commune, led us along a small dirt road, winding along the mountainside for about 4km to reach Na Nhu village.

According to Mr. Dao, Na Nhu village is facing the same situation as Sa Vang, where almost all of the black pigs died after last year's African swine fever outbreak. Now, people are starting to repopulate their herds, but mainly buying white pig breeds from lowland districts to raise. "The native black pig breed in Ta Ca is scarce; no one in the villages near Na Nhu is selling them," said Mr. Moong Van Dao.

Efforts to preserve native livestock breeds.

In My Ly commune, in some villages near the center such as Hoa Ly, Xieng Tam, and Xang Tren, the supply of native black pig breeds is currently scarce. The main reason is still the damage caused by the African swine fever outbreak from 2019, which has continued sporadically until now.

According to officials from the Agriculture Department of the Ky Son District People's Committee, African swine fever outbreaks from 2020 to the present are still lingering, so people are still very hesitant to restock their herds, especially with the local black pig breed. The outbreak that caused the most damage to the pig herd in Ky Son was in 2019, affecting almost all communes and towns. Many villages were almost completely wiped out, including those with black pigs, such as Buoc and Huoi Cang villages in Bac Ly commune; and some villages in Muong Ai, My Ly, Keng Du, Ta Ca, Huu Kiem, and Bao Nam communes… At the peak of the African swine fever outbreak, Ky Son had approximately 25,000 pigs.

Currently, the pig population in Ky Son district is approximately 28,000. In some communes such as Ta Ca, My Ly, Muong Ai, Muong Tip, etc., although the native black pig breed is scarce, households are very hesitant to buy piglets from other communes for breeding, fearing the spread of disease.

For disadvantaged families, the black pig breeding stock provided by border guard posts in coordination with the Provincial Farmers' Association has been a source of livelihood for many households to escape poverty for many years. However, in 2023, many border guard posts are also facing difficulties in establishing black pig breeding stock to support the people.

Major Nguyen Van Tam, Deputy Political Officer of My Ly Border Guard Station, said that due to outbreaks of African swine fever, the herd of native black pigs that the unit invested in raising in coordination with the Provincial Farmers' Association has now disappeared. The unit is currently looking for sources of native black pig breeds to rebuild the herd and continue supporting the people.

An official from the Ta Ca Commune People's Committee also stated that there is a shortage of native black pig breeds throughout the commune. Therefore, the commune is continuing to direct and support farmers in restoring and restocking their pig herds after the African swine fever outbreak; and is fully implementing disease prevention and control measures for livestock. In May, Ta Ca completed the vaccination program for livestock and poultry in all villages.

The pig herd of the people in Ta Ca currently numbers over 1,000, but mainly consists of white-haired pigs purchased from other localities. Some households still have a few native black pigs and are trying to breed them. The commune's People's Committee has sent officials to support the people with techniques for caring for and preventing diseases in livestock, promoting reproduction to increase the breed and preserve the native livestock stock.

According to the Provincial People's Committee report, African swine fever continued to occur in many districts and towns in 2023. As of July 10, 2023, the province had 23 outbreaks of African swine fever in 7 districts, cities, and towns, resulting in the death of 594 pigs, with a total weight of nearly 21 tons requiring disposal. Currently, there are still 2 outbreaks of African swine fever in Yen Thanh district awaiting official declaration of the end of the epidemic.