HCMC – Livestock farmers at this point in time usually boost meat supply in the lead up to the Lunar New Year; however, they need to take economic uncertainties and market upheavals into account before expanding their livestock this year.
According to a representative of the Dong Nai Animal Husbandry Association, the average price for live pigs at farms ranges from VND55,000 to 58,000 a kilogram. Meanwhile, the production cost of live pigs has increased to VND55,000 per kilogram.
In Long An, many farmers are reluctant to boost their livestock. Despite the high price of live pigs at VND60,000-VND62,000 per kilogram there, many livestock breeders have kept their herds unchanged, while others have scaled down farming. Meanwhile, several others have decided to change their practice by retailing their pigs, instead of wholesaling them as in previous years.
A representative of an organic free-range chicken cooperative of Tan Phu in Tan Khanh Commune in Thai Nguyen Province said that they would supply 20,000 chickens weighing some 2 kilograms each to the Tet market. Currently, the cooperative has kept the volume of cattle and poultry stable.
The remarkable rise in livestock costs, a stronger U.S dollar resulting in a hike in the animal feed price, and the risk of animals being exposed to diseases due to unfavorable weather are the main reasons why breeding households are reluctant to increase the volume of cattle and poultry this year.
In addition, since October 6, 2022, the Veterinary Certification issued to those who have pigs transported out of provinces has been required to include a testing certificate for the non-African swine fever virus. Therefore, the farmers are concerned that the additional paperwork will increase production costs.
