Biosafety farming - Solution to protect livestock in Nghe An
(Baonghean) - Biosecurity in livestock farming is a set of measures including both techniques and management to prevent and limit the spread of naturally occurring or man-made biological agents that are harmful to livestock and ecosystems.
Nghe An is the largest province in the country, with a diverse and rich agricultural production. As of March 2019, the total herd of buffalo and cows in Nghe An is estimated at 751,210, pigs at 934,710, and poultry at 24,761 thousand.
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| Biosafety chicken farm in Dong Vinh ward (Vinh city). Photo: Viet Phuong. |
However, the actual transformation results still have many limitations and shortcomings. Small-scale household farming is still the main sector, accounting for a high proportion (over 80%). The farming method relies mainly on traditional methods and experience, so productivity, quality, and economic efficiency have not met expectations.
Therefore, biosafety farming and safe chain production are inevitable trends in line with the integration and development process that need to be widely applied today to ensure good growth and development of livestock, reduce diseases, pollution and increase economic efficiency.
The family built a comprehensive farm following the closed VAC model, participated in agricultural extension training courses, grasped the technical process of safe livestock farming and visited to learn and exchange experiences with farm households in the commune. Currently, the family has 2 fish ponds, a row of barns for raising about 50 pigs/batch, 2 rows of duck barns for raising about 2,500 laying ducks, applying the correct biosafety farming process from barns, breeding, raising, caring, and disease prevention, so the livestock grow quickly and diseases rarely occur.
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| Shrimp farmers in Quynh Luu use heat-resistant tarpaulins to help shrimp grow well in hot weather. In addition, ensuring a nutritious food source is a solution to increase shrimp resistance. Photo: Viet Hung |
Mr. Nguyen Van Vinh - veterinary officer and agricultural extension officer of Dien Lien commune (Dien Chau) said: Currently, the commune has a total herd of about 140 buffaloes and cows, 1,000 pigs, 5,000 chickens, 20,000 ducks, and about 20 integrated farms. Every year, the commune coordinates with the farmers' association and the district's agricultural extension to organize many training courses for livestock households on biosafety livestock farming so that people can clearly understand the technical process of good livestock farming practices, from isolation, control of entry and exit to cleaning, disinfection, sterilization of barns, full vaccination, including bookkeeping, management, and archiving of records during the livestock farming process. Therefore, in recent years, epidemics in livestock and poultry in the commune have rarely occurred.
In particular, livestock farming households comply with biosafety farming processes, ensuring food hygiene and safety standards, opening up favorable opportunities in linking with businesses and traders to consume livestock products, increasing economic efficiency for farmers.
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| Shrimp farming model in cement tanks of Mr. Hoang Xuan Tin in Quynh Bang commune, Quynh Luu district. Photo: Viet Hung |
To properly implement biosafety farming processes, farmers need to pay attention to the following measures:
Absolutely prohibit and restrict unauthorized people from entering the livestock area, control and prevent wild birds, rodents, dogs, cats, and disease vectors from entering the livestock area.
+ Care, feeding and herd management:The breed must have a clear origin and meet quality control standards. Select and provide good quality, nutritious food.
+ Disease prevention and waste treatment:The breeding area and equipment must be regularly disinfected and sterilized. Animals must be fully and periodically vaccinated and dewormed according to the correct technical procedures for each type of animal and have clear and specific records.
Waste must be collected daily and treated by appropriate measures such as chemicals, composting, incineration, biogas technology or biological preparations,...
Implementing and fully applying biosafety measures in livestock farming will create safe and high-quality livestock products; thereby opening up opportunities to promote livestock development and increase competitiveness, link product consumption markets, improve value chains and economic efficiency.