February 20, 2008

Cold weather takes its toll on Vietnam livestock

The number of buffalos and cows killed by the prolonged adverse cold climate in Vietnam has nearly already 55,000, up by 3,000 from the same period last year, figures released by the government on January 17 show.

These losses are estimated to cost VND190 billion (US$11. million) according to Nguyen Thanh Son, head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's Animal Husbandry Department.

The cold weather and the lack of feed have worn out the cattle's resistance, he said.

In addition, farmers in many localities left their buffalos and cows unbridled on the fields and the mountains despite the temperature drop of 10 degrees Celsius.