Livestock sector stands at 'restructuring threshold'

Viet Nam’s livestock sector is entering a pivotal phase, as global fluctuations not only create pressure but also open opportunities for comprehensive restructuring toward modernization and sustainability. This assessment was made by Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Health and Production at the first National Conference on Livestock Science, Technology and Veterinary Medicine on March 28.

According to Mr. Dang, the global context is changing rapidly, directly impacting the livestock sector. Geopolitical conflicts, supply chain disruptions, rising logistics costs, and import-driven inflation have caused significant fluctuations in production input prices. These factors not only increase costs but also force countries to adjust their agricultural development strategies toward greater self-reliance.

At the same time, global consumption trends are shifting noticeably. Consumers are increasingly concerned about food safety, traceability, animal welfare, and environmental factors. By 2030, demand for meat, eggs, and milk is expected to continue rising, accompanied by increasingly stringent standards. Meanwhile, production structures are also evolving, with a gradual reduction in red meat, a higher proportion of poultry, and productivity optimization through technology.

In this context, Viet Nam’s livestock sector has made significant progress, rising to join the group of countries with large-scale production worldwide. Meat, egg, and milk output from 2020 to 2025 maintained steady growth, contributing to food security and gradually participating in export markets. However, according to Mr. Dang, this growth is still not truly sustainable, as the sector remains heavily dependent on imported inputs, particularly animal feed, and is not yet fully self-sufficient in breeding stock and technology.

A notable point is that production structures remain fragmented, and supply chain linkages are weak, resulting in low added value and high market risks. In addition, pressures from disease, climate change, and emission reduction requirements are intensifying, creating an urgent need to change the development model.

Nevertheless, leaders of the Department of Livestock Production and Veterinary Medicine believe the sector still has significant room for breakthroughs. Domestic market demand remains stable, export potential is still large, and advances in science and technology are creating opportunities to enhance productivity and production efficiency.

In this context, the period 2025–2030 is seen as a “window of opportunity” for restructuring the livestock sector. “Current fluctuations act as a necessary filter for Viet Nam’s livestock industry to reshape itself and develop more sustainably,” emphasized Mr. Dang.

According to the plan, by 2030, the livestock sector will develop toward modern, large-scale operations, with high-tech applications and effective disease control. Total meat output is expected to exceed 10 million tons, egg production over 25 billion eggs, and milk around 1.6 million tons, while also increasing export share and product added value.

The focus of this process is building a smart livestock ecosystem, where the entire value chain is operated on a technology-driven platform. Science, technology, and digital transformation are identified as the driving forces throughout, helping the sector shift from extensive growth to more intensive, value-driven development.

To achieve these goals, the industry will prioritize mastering breeding technology, increasing domestic self-sufficiency in livestock breeds, and developing the feed sector sustainably by utilizing by-products and reducing import dependence. Simultaneously, the application of digital technology, automation, and artificial intelligence in farm management will help optimize costs and improve productivity.

In veterinary care, proactive disease prevention, vaccine development, and establishing internationally certified disease-free zones are seen as key factors for stable growth. At the same time, the sector will strengthen slaughtering, deep processing, and logistics industries to enhance product value and meet export market standards.

Another important approach is developing closed-loop value chains, strengthening linkages between production and consumption stages, and accelerating digital transformation across the industry, from traceability to market management.

In the long term, the livestock sector aims to build a modern, sustainable, and self-reliant ecosystem that ensures biosecurity, reduces emissions, promotes a circular economy, and enhances international competitiveness. Building strong brands and expanding export markets are also considered crucial for integrating Viet Namese livestock products more deeply into global value chains.

According to Phạm Kim Dang, if the current period is well leveraged, Viet Nam’s livestock sector can achieve a major transformation in the coming decade shifting from a traditional production industry to a modern, efficient sector with a strong position on the global agricultural map.