September 24, 2010

 

Cattle diseases cause big losses to central Vietnam's breeders

Rampant diseases in cattle including Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) or blue-ear disease and FMD brought serious losses to breeders in central Vietnam.

 

Diseases struck animals in the central province of Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, Quang Ngai, Quang Nam and Da Nang.

 

FMD outbreaks in Quang Binh's district Tuyen Hoa affected 113 cattle of 16 households. Residents said illegally imported animals through Cha Lo border gate. Vets provided 120 litre of chemicals, one tonne of lime and 2,500 dozens of vaccine to fight against FMD.

 

Some 305 cattle with FMD have been reported in Ha Tinh's district Huong Son and Huong Khe. Head of Department of Animal Health Pham Thanh Binh said the disease occurred because farmers have not vaccinated the herds for 15 years. Moreover, cattle is free-ranged with animals of Nghe An and Quang Binh which had reported diseases.

 

FMD affected 73 pigs and 64 cattle in Quang Ngai's district Binh Son, Son Tinh, Son Tay and Tu Nghia meanwhile blue ear killed 73 pigs in district Binh Son, said Quang Ngai's Department of Animal Health.

 

The department blamed poor awareness and relaxed behaviours to the disease among breeders for outbreaks of the disease. In addition, head of the department said people concealed the disease and purchase drugs to treat animals at homes but a farmer, Nguyen Thi Hoa in Nghia Hoa commune said vets have not warned them of the disease as well as sprayed disinfectants or injected vaccine.

 

The central city of Da Nang has killed over 2,500 blue ear pigs among nearly 5,400 infected animals while Quang Nam killed over 5,000 pigs. The disease has spread in seven district of Quang Nam. It is alarming that local governments have not strictly controlled transportation, trade, slaughter and consumption of pork products.