Cold protection for livestock and poultry

(Baonghean.vn) According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the food supply during the Lunar New Year this year will be abundant because the livestock industry is developing favorably, and diseases in livestock and poultry in the whole province are being effectively controlled. However, in addition, in mountainous districts and ethnic minority areas, livestock and poultry have been facing severe cold for more than a month now.

This situation may continue as the North continues to endure successive cold spells. The prolonged cold spells of recent years have caused tens of thousands of buffaloes and cows in mountainous districts to starve and freeze to death. Most recently, the severe cold spell at the end of 2010 also caused dozens of buffaloes, cows and poultry to freeze to death, significantly affecting the food supply and income of livestock farmers.

To limit livestock and poultry from starving, freezing and dying of disease, localities need to strengthen propaganda and disseminate experiences to farmers on how to prevent disease and protect livestock from the cold. It is necessary to repair barns and farms to prevent cold, limit early grazing, and not let them roam freely when the temperature is below about 150C.

Professionals need to go down to the villages to guide people on how to cover barns, warm them, and use straw and hay as animal feed... All levels, departments and branches need to support funding for building barns for poor households, policy families, and ethnic minorities. That is a practical way to help people protect their property and limit the number of livestock dying from cold and hunger.

Van Ly