Key to sustainable livestock sector

In recent years, the livestock sector of Tuyen Quang has continuously faced many dangerous diseases such as lumpy skin disease in buffaloes and cattle, foot and mouth disease, avian influenza and particularly African swine fever. Each outbreak causes heavy losses for livestock farmers, disrupts production chains and directly affects livelihoods. This reality has created an urgent requirement to change mindset, considering biosecurity as a prerequisite for sustainable development.

The province currently has more than 140 livestock and aquaculture farms meeting standards. Among them, one farm meets the international GlobalGAP standard, two farms apply high technology, nine farms meet the requirements for large-scale livestock production, 51 facilities are certified with VietGAHP or equivalent and 10 facilities are recognized as disease-free. This system is becoming a crucial foundation for the province to gradually establish a clean livestock brand with clear traceability and enhance market trust.

Le Hai Nam, Director of the Sub-department of Animal Health of Tuyen Quang Province, said that developing disease-free livestock production associated with environmental protection is the key to a sustainable livestock sector. It protects the herds, ensures long-term livelihoods for people and contributes to preserving the ecological environment and public health.

In practice, during major outbreaks, especially African swine fever, households and facilities that strictly follow biosecurity procedures often suffer less damage, recover faster and maintain stable production chains. Therefore, establishing disease-free zones and facilities has become essential, not only for effective disease prevention but also to meet new market standards, especially in high-quality agricultural product markets.

At the same time, livestock production associated with environmental protection is strongly encouraged by the province. Many models such as biogas systems, biological bedding and biological products for waste treatment have shown clear effectiveness, helping reduce pollution, save costs and make good use of by-products for production.

Beyond traditional waste treatment solutions, many livestock households have boldly invested in new technologies such as automatic manure separation systems, large-capacity biogas collection units or rotary-type organic fertilizer composting machines. These models significantly reduce odor and wastewater while turning livestock waste into valuable renewable resources, thereby creating additional income for households and reducing environmental pressure. Local authorities have also organized many training courses and technical guidance sessions to help farmers approach new models that suit their specific production conditions.

Nguyen Ngoc Sang, Director of the Safe Food Production and Processing Cooperative Sang Nhung, said that for many years the cooperative has been committed to the model of clean from farm to table. The closed production chain covers breeding, feed, livestock production, slaughtering, processing, distribution and environmental treatment.

According to Mr. Sang, one of the most important factors ensuring stable chain operation is strict compliance with biosecurity standards and quality management. The cooperative has invested in an automatic monitoring system for temperature and humidity in barns and applied software for tracking animal health and veterinary sanitation logs. As a result, disease risks are well controlled, reducing losses and ensuring product quality that meets food safety standards.

Particularly, all livestock waste is collected and treated to produce three types of organic fertilizer: microbial organic fertilizer, mineral organic fertilizer and traditional organic fertilizer. In the coming time, the cooperative will supply organic fertilizer to local people, contributing to the development of clean and organic agriculture in the province. To maintain long-term livestock production, disease control must always be the top priority. This is the most valuable experience the cooperative has gained after many years in the industry.

Additionally, the cooperative is studying an expansion toward circular economy-based production, in which livestock waste is not only used to produce fertilizer but also serves as input material for high-tech cultivation models, creating a closed and more sustainable production ecosystem.

It can be affirmed that building a disease-free and environmentally friendly livestock sector is the solid foundation for the future of the livestock industry in Tuyen Quang. This is not only a sustainable direction but also ensures a balance of interests between humans, livestock and the environment, aiming toward a modern, efficient and competitive agricultural sector in the long run.