Strong measures needed
(Baonghean.vn)- For many years, transporting cattle to the lowlands for consumption in the Nam Can and Ky Son areas has become the main occupation of a part of the people in this mountainous area. In order to limit and control the spread of diseases in livestock through transportation, strong enough measures are needed.
Deputy Director of the Provincial Veterinary Department - Mr. Tran Minh Hanh said: There is still a large number of cattle transported within the province, especially cattle transported from Ky Son (mainly Nam Can commune) to the lowland districts that have not been controlled and quarantined. In the area near the Nam Can international border gate (Ky Son), there are currently 8 cattle gathering points. Cattle are bought by people in the border area of Ky Son district to fatten and resell. Every day, to avoid inspection by the authorities, after being collected, the owners hire local people to lead them through small-scale roads and gather them at the gathering points to transport them to the lowland districts for consumption. On average, every day, the amount of buffaloes and cows transported from Ky Son district via National Highway 7 to the lowland districts is from 1-2 trucks with a quantity of 20-25 cows. In the days before the U market (Do Luong), the number of buffaloes and cows gathered increased significantly - up to 5-7 trucks with about 190-200 cows.
Recently, implementing the province's direction on quarantine and control of the transportation of cattle across the border, Ky Son district has established an interdisciplinary team, including the participation of the police force, to inspect and control the transportation of livestock and poultry in the district. Before being circulated, cattle and buffaloes are ear-tagged, sprayed with Ben coxit chemicals and issued with a certificate of quarantine within the province. At the same time, the provincial veterinary department directed Nam Can commune to notify and propagate to people that when buying and selling cattle and buffaloes, they must declare to the commune authorities and must gather at the quarantine area, then report to the Ky Son district veterinary station to carry out quarantine, requiring the commune to strictly handle those who do not comply.
However, due to the large number of buffaloes and cows, it is impossible to inspect and monitor them all. There is still a situation where traders of buffaloes and cows do not declare quarantine, always find ways to avoid waiting time for quarantine procedures, reduce costs and quarantine time. Therefore, a large number of buffaloes and cows, including those that are sick when transported to lowland districts without quarantine, have caused difficulties for disease prevention work in livestock and poultry in the province. Meanwhile, the responsibility of Ky Son district and Nam Can commune in directing the planning and construction of concentrated areas for collecting buffaloes and cows for quarantine, directing relevant local sectors to coordinate with veterinary agencies in quarantine, control, and handling violations of animal transportation is still not consistent.
In order for the quarantine and control of the transportation of buffaloes and cows across the border in Ky Son district to operate effectively and prevent epidemics, first of all, Ky Son district needs to step up propaganda about the harmful effects of spreading disease by transporting buffaloes and cows without quarantine, as well as regulations on this issue. At the same time, urgently promote the planning and construction of a gathering area for collecting and quarantining buffaloes and cows in Nam Can commune to carry out quarantine according to regulations; Set up temporary quarantine checkpoints at key locations in Ky Son district.
However, in the long term, according to Mr. Tran Minh Hanh, it is necessary to propagate to the people about mandatory vaccination against FMD and cattle septicemia, ensuring that over 80% of the total herd is covered, and strictly handle violations. For traders, those participating in the trading of cattle from Ky Son district are only allowed to purchase healthy, vaccinated cattle. For cattle originating from Laos to Ky Son district, the Veterinary Department will take samples for testing and monitor diseases such as infectious abortion and bovine tuberculosis./.
Phu Huong