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Fish price soars as cattle struck by disease in Champassak
The price of fish in Champassak province rose significantly last month as the supply of beef dropped due to a foot and mouth disease outbreak.
Disease outbreak meant many consumers decided to opt for fish instead of their usual meat, according to the provincial Industry and Commerce Department Deputy Director, Mr Somboun Vongkhamla, yesterday.
However the cost of beef in markets remained stable at 35,000 kip a kg, while fish rose in price from 22,000 to 25,000 kip, he said.
The department has also limited some slaughterhouses' capacity to process buffaloes and cattle because of concerns over the cleanliness of some abattoirs.
Following the foot and mouth outbreak the provincial livestock and fisheries sector sent a technical team to join the local authority in providing treatment for sick livestock, banned animal movement in outbreak areas and sent veterinary staff to monitor slaughterhouse practices.
One fish vendor at Daoheuang market speaking about the increase in demand told local media that she is currently selling between 400kg and one tonne of fish per day.
Normally at this time of year she would expect to sell 70kg per day.
She is also receiving orders from Vientiane and Savannakhet province which provide very good profit margins.
In the meantime the livestock and fisheries sector continues to help farmers treat their sick animals and advises people not to eat animals that die from the disease.
Over 1,600 calves have died from foot and mouth disease since last month and more than 7,000 cattle and buffaloes are undergoing treatment while 9,000 have recovered.
The outbreak has spread to 10 districts of Champassak now that Pakxong and Soukhouma have had cases confirmed by the livestock sector.
Savannakhet, Saravan and Huaphan provinces are also affected by the outbreak to varying extents.
During cold weather this dry season, animal health officials advised farmers to carefully monitor livestock for signs of the disease.
When cattle and buffaloes are infected owners should move quickly to treat the symptoms and refrain from moving sick animals.
The disease is extremely contagious to nearby herds but deaths in calves usually occur due to mouth infections which prevent the calf from drinking its mother's milk.
vietiane times
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