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Livestock deaths in Xieng Khuang to hit exports
Xieng Khuang provincial authorities believe that the number of buffaloes and cattle exported to neighbouring countries this year will decrease after thousands of animals died due to low temperatures this month.
Unseasonably cool weather from March 16 to18 saw the temperature drop to 0 degrees Celsius in some parts of the province and killed more than 3,400 cattle and buffaloes, according to a report from the provincial livestock and fisheries section.
Last year, the province exported around 10,000 cows and buffaloes to Vietnam and other provinces in Laos and authorities had planned to export about 2,300 buffaloes and 7,750 cattle this year, said head of the section Mr. Phimpha Niravong.
He said that the large number of animals that died this month will have an impact on the province's livestock exports, both domestic and abroad.
The worst affected areas were Phoukoud, Paek, Khoun and Phaxay districts, as these are the coldest areas in the province, he said.
It is believed that the actual number of animals that have died may be greater then 3,400 because some district authorities are yet to report to the section, said Mr. Phimpha.
When all data is available, the section will collate information on the number of animal deaths and the economic impacts before reporting to the government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
A similar outbreak of livestock deaths due to extremely cold weather occurred in the province in 1986, causing substantial economic loss, Mr. Phimpha explained.
Xieng Khuang is a northern province that produces substantial numbers of livestock for domestic consumption and export to neighbouring countries.
The number of buffaloes in the province increased by 7 percent this year and head of cattle increased by nearly 11 percent, Mr. Phimpha said, adding that these figures will now be lower due to the recent livestock deaths.
Next year, the section plans to increase the number of buffaloes by 2,000 head and cattle by 5,000, but it may now struggle to meet those targets. However, provincial authorities will try to encourage farmers in each village to focus on animal healthcare and to increase the number of livestock that they own in order to earn more income to improve their living conditions.
In the past, the section has received cooperation and assistance from a livestock development project, but it still requires animal stock and equipment to provide better livestock health care and to increase the number of livestock in the future, Mr. Phimpha said.
Last year, outbreaks of haemorrhagic fever and foot-and-mouth disease killed a lot of calves in the province but these diseases have not occurred this year, he added.
He also said that the lower cattle and buffalo numbers may cause the price of beef to rise.
vientiane times
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