Increase in poultry flock because of hog losses due to African Swine Fever

Pork makes up around 80 percent of Vietnam's total meat consumption; accordingly, the African Swine Fever has created a headache for a country where pork is a staple of the diet. The husbandry sector is taking heed of increase in poultry flock and other meat to satisfy the demand of meat in the upcoming Lunar New Year.

The fall in the pork supply and the consequent rise in price will have a spillover effect, which will be translated into higher demand for chicken and other poultry meat.

In 2018, more than 5 million pigs have been culled in Vietnam due to African Swine Fever. That equates to 0.16 percent of the country’s pig population of more than 12 million pigs leading to a severe imbalance of pork supply and demand.

Presently, the country’s husbandry sector is focusing on raising poultry flock to increase meat for the upcoming Lunar New Year.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in first eight months of the year, the cattle flock has surged by 3 percent and meat value also risen by 4 percent. Poultry farming has seen the rise of 10 percent and 13 percent as expected in the last months of the year.

After bird flu broke out ten years ago, the livestock sector has focused on biosecurity procedures in poultry production.

Acting director general of the Husbandry Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Duong said enterprises have invested in solution in raising poultry to have competitively priced poultry as well as exports.

Hog raising sector has switched to raising the animal in farms and linked farmers with enterprises or cooperatives. Many farms have applied biological security without antibiotic to prevent diseases.