Nghe An farmers focus on restocking to supply Tet market

To prepare for the Tet market, Ms. Hong has released 40 pigs for meat. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Continuously from the beginning of May until now,Pig prices drop sharply, sometimes hitting rock bottom. Along with that, the complicated developments of the Covid-19 epidemic have caused the consumption of pigs as well as other livestock and poultry to stagnate. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong in Hamlet 3, Thanh Ha Commune (Thanh Chuong) decided to leave her barn empty and wait for the market to recover.

Now that the epidemic is basically under control, and it is the end of the year, Ms. Hong boldly released 40 pigs for meat. She said: “Currently, pig prices are low, but because I have the initiative to breed pigs and I cannot leave the barn empty forever, I decided to re-herd. If I breed pigs now, I will have pigs to sell for Tet. Hopefully, the price of live pigs will increase by then.”

Farms and ranches in Tan Ky district have also boldly restored their herds to keep up with the supply of live pigs. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Large-scale concentrated livestock farming and the formation of pig farming cooperatives, after a period of reducing herds and spacing out litters, now 20 households raise livestock on a farm and family scale in hamlet 1, Nghia Binh commune (Tan Ky) concentratedherd restoration, herd increaseIt is expected that households will have about 1,000 pigs.

Mr. Hoang Cong Dinh - a pig farmer in Nghia Binh commune (Tan Ky) said: "Now is the time to raise pigs for Tet. Nghia Binh commune is the main source of pigs for Lat town and neighboring communes. Most of the 50 pigs of this litter have been "ordered" by traders, the price of pigs depends on the market at that time."

To limit input costs, many farms and ranches proactively use breeds and increase feed from agricultural by-products. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Not only large-scale farms and ranches but also small-scale farms have begun to repopulate their pig herds. However, the number is limited, mainly raising 2-3 pigs to take advantage of agricultural by-products, serving the family and selling to the market to "have money to spend during Tet" rather than raising as many as before.

This is also the time when householdsPoultry farming is also active in the flock.to supply chickens, ducks, and geese to the market. Therefore, the demand for breeding chickens has increased sharply. Ms. Duong Thi Lieu - owner of a breeding chicken dealer in Trang Son commune (Do Luong) said: "Currently, each batch I sell to the market 5,000 - 7,000 breeding chickens of all kinds. Mainly to farms and households. The price of breeding chickens is basically stable".

This is also the time when poultry farmers flock to serve Tet. Photo: Thanh Phuc

According to general assessment, compared to previous years, this year, people are quite cautious in restocking and increasing their herds. Because, currently, the price of animal feed is still high, the price of livestock and poultry is low, in addition, due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, it is forecasted that consumption during Tet will be more limited than previous years. Along with that, African swine fever is currently recurring in many localities, so livestock farmers are also quite cautious.

Mr. Ngo Duc Quynh - Deputy Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine recommended: "To facilitate herd restoration and increase, and provide a large amount of food to serve market demand, localities in the province need to promotedisease prevention for livestock;support people in applying biosafety farming processes, creating quality products, ensuring food safety and hygiene. Farmers need to update the market situation and base on the developments of the Covid-19 epidemic as well as diseases in livestock and poultry, from there consider and calculate reasonable herd restoration.

As of September 2021, the total herd of cattle in the province is estimated at 495,356 heads: The total herd of pigs is estimated at 916,522 heads; The total herd of poultry is estimated at 29,502 thousand heads. Accumulated from the beginning of the year until now, the whole province has had 350 outbreaks of lumpy skin disease, 9,757 sick cattle, 2,411 dead, culled weight: 326,062 kg; African swine fever forced to culle: 19,239 pigs; total weight 1,183,387 kg. Currently, it is the last months of the year, livestock households and localities are focusing on herd restoration and increase to supply food for the Lunar New Year market.