Actively protect livestock from the cold

(Baonghean) - In this cold spell caused by the strengthening of cold air, many localities have focused on protecting livestock with synchronous solutions; especially directing specialized agencies to coordinate in implementing on-site cold-proof solutions for livestock and poultry with the determination to minimize damage...

Covering livestock against the cold in Nghia Dan.

In recent days, the temperature has dropped, sometimes below 120C, and the colder it gets at night. Faced with this reality, veterinary staff in communes in Nghia Dan district have been visiting families to advise and guide them on how to prevent and protect livestock and poultry from the cold. Ms. Ngo Thi Nga's family in Nghia Hoi commune raises 2 buffaloes, which are a large asset for agricultural production. Having been instructed, in the past few cold days, she has not grazed the buffaloes, but has covered the barns, added dry straw to feed the buffaloes and to make them warmer, and given them warm, diluted salt water to drink. Ms. Nga said: "It's so cold, we have to stock up on food such as corn leaves and sugarcane leaves to feed the buffaloes and properly implement methods to protect the buffaloes from the cold... Hopefully the weather won't get any colder."

Nghia Hoi commune has 1,350 goats, over 1,000 buffaloes and cows, more than 4,000 pigs and tens of thousands of poultry. After receiving the telegram from the district People's Committee on cold prevention for livestock and poultry, the commune has drastically deployed it to every village, hamlet and household. In addition, the commune has assigned veterinary staff to monitor the development of winter diseases to have the earliest measures to prevent cold and winter diseases for livestock and poultry. Mr. Ngo Van Cuc, veterinary staff of Nghia Hoi commune said: "We have quickly deployed measures to prevent cold for livestock and poultry, monitor diseases and support farmers with technical measures to help them develop effective livestock farming".

Measures to prevent cold for livestock and poultry have been implemented synchronously by communes throughout Nghia Dan district. During that process, livestock households are also highly aware of this work, because livestock farming has become one of the important solutions to increase family income. Many households raising livestock in the direction of goods must master the techniques and knowledge to protect livestock and poultry. Nghia Dan district currently has a herd of 50,425 buffaloes and cows (including 26,950 dairy cows), 37,100 pigs, 720,000 poultry, and 19,883 goats. This is an important source of goods that farmers have long cared for with the hope of bringing significant income to families. Therefore, effective work to prevent cold and winter diseases will bring victory to the livestock sector in the district.

With that requirement, cold prevention and protection of livestock and poultry are considered the main tasks of all levels and sectors at present. Mr. Cao Minh Duc, Head of the Veterinary Station of Nghia Dan district, added: “According to the forecast, this year the weather is more complicated and colder than every year, so the propaganda and dissemination of methods to protect livestock and poultry must be more drastic and stronger. In addition to covering measures, adding foods to increase resistance for buffaloes and cows, people also have to monitor the disease developments to promptly take effective preventive measures. During that process, we directed the grassroots veterinary force to regularly work closely with farmers to be ready to provide timely support…”.

In Nghi Loc district, the district People's Committee has also directed communes, towns, relevant departments and agencies to implement urgent measures to prevent and combat the cold for livestock. In Nghi Cong Nam commune, most livestock households are currently proactively covering their barns to protect their livestock. Mr. Pham Huu Nghiem, in hamlet 10, said that his family raises 5 cows and dozens of pigs, chickens and ducks. After hearing the commune radio station and mass media announce the situation of severe cold, the family reinforced the barns, prepared enough food reserves to increase the resistance of the livestock. Mr. Nghiem shared: "From the beginning of winter, my family prepared food reserves for the livestock, covered the barns, used dry straw as a bed for the livestock to lie on, and on days when the weather was too cold, I locked the chickens in the barn and gave them warm water to drink."

Mr. Cao Minh Duc, Head of Nghia Dan District Veterinary Station (sitting) guides people on how to prevent cold for livestock.

In Nghi Hoa commune, there is a large number of livestock and poultry in Nghi Loc district with 1,500 livestock and more than 50,000 poultry. Based on the district's directive documents, the commune's radio system continuously propagates and guides livestock households on measures to prevent and control cold and epidemics for livestock so that people can clearly understand and proactively implement. Up to this point, livestock households in the commune have basically covered their barns, prepared enough reserve food such as: dry straw, corn stalks, elephant grass and supplemented some concentrated feed for livestock. Mr. Dang Tho Thieu, Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, said: "After receiving the urgent telegram from the District People's Committee, we have focused on reorganizing the Steering Committee, assigning specific members to the grassroots to instruct and propagate livestock households to implement measures to prevent and combat cold for livestock. At the same time, we have strengthened the inspection and supervision of the transportation and slaughter of livestock and poultry, especially the re-import of herds from other places to promptly detect signs of disease."

Nghi Loc District Veterinary Department has also assigned staff to closely follow the base to guide and direct livestock households to implement the following measures: clean and dry barns, cover them warmly with thick, dry bedding on the barn floor; ensure suitable temperature for livestock; provide enough clean water according to daily needs for livestock, use warm water for livestock and poultry to drink on cold days, enhance care and nutrition, ensure a nutritious diet. In addition, add vitamins and minerals to increase resistance for livestock and poultry. Some places also make warm clothes for buffaloes and cows from jute sacks and multi-layer cotton fabric. Mr. Tran Quoc Cuong, Head of the District Veterinary Station, added: "To protect livestock, the station has provided localities with 2,000 doses of vaccine to vaccinate against blue ear disease in areas with old outbreaks and high-risk areas. On the other hand, we continue to disinfect, recommending that people thoroughly clean and dry the barn system, buy lime powder to sprinkle around the barn area to minimize the development of pathogens."

Thanks to the implementation of many specific and drastic solutions to protect livestock during the severe cold weather, there have been no cases of livestock or poultry falling ill due to hunger or disease in Nghia Dan and Nghi Loc. The Party committees and authorities in these localities continue to direct veterinary forces to closely monitor the situation to promptly handle any adverse effects on livestock in the area caused by the weather.

CTV Group