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Beef prices rise after livestock deaths
The price of beef in various provinces has risen after thousands of cattle and buffaloes died due to foot and mouth disease and the recent cold weather.
Farmers asking more for their cattle has led to higher beef prices in markets.
Last month, the cost of Grade A buffalo meat and beef in markets rose to 40,000-42,000 kip per kg, up from 35,000 kip per kg last year.
Further increases loom due to higher demand over Lao New Year (Pi Mai Lao) this month and farmers asking higher prices for their livestock.
As a result of the foot and mouth disease outbreak, some people in Saravan, Champassak and Huaphan provinces have had to eat more fish and pork after the livestock and fisheries sector put a temporary ban on the sale of beef, according to a report from local authorities.
Many slaughterhouses in Vientiane have a slump in the supply of cattle, Donedou slaughterhouse owner Mr Khampeun Singkavongxay told Vientiane Times yesterday.
He said the slaughterhouse normally killed more than 10 cattle a day but last month this dropped to only three.
Most of the cattle supplied to the slaughterhouse are bought from the southern provinces and some from Vientiane, Mr. Khampeun said.
To meet market demand over the New Year, the slaughterhouse is willing to buy livestock from anywhere, he said.
Champassak, Attapeu, Savannakhet and Khammuan provinces are major livestock suppliers to Vientiane's markets, so the price of buffalo meat in the capital has also seen an increase.
The foot and mouth outbreak killed round 2,000 cattle and buffaloes in Saravan, Champassak and Huaphan provinces, while more than 6,000 cattle died during the cold weather in seven northern provinces, particularly Xieng Khuang, Luang Prabang and Huaphan, last month, according to a report from the Livestock and Fisheries Department.
The department has already sent teams to collect data on the number of animal deaths in order to compile a report to request assistance from the government, department Director General Dr Bounkhouang Khambounheuang said.
Meat is an important part of people's daily diet, and in theory its price should increase when there is a shortage of market supply and fall when supply exceeds demand.
However, provincial industry and commerce sectors are seeking ways to control prices over the Lao New Year holiday.
Every year the industry and commerce sector warns vendors not to increase food prices without prior confirmation from the sector. They are also told to clearly display the prices of their products.
The sector has organised teams to survey markets, stating that wrongdoers should be fined and educated by the market management committee.
vientiane times
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