Thanh Hoa pig farmers gain big profits thanks to good disease monitoring

The pig farm of Trinh Van Tuyen's family in Quarter 5, Phu Son ward, Bim Son town (Thanh Hoa) currently has over 200 sows. Tuyen sells thousands of breeding pigs every year. For many years, his family has strictly implemented biosafe farming procedures to achieve sustainable farming efficiency.

“There are still many small-scale livestock farms among the people as of date, and temporary barns are prone to disease outbreaks. Aiming to ensure disease safety, I take the initiative to vaccinate all livestock and strictly control people entering and leaving the farm. Barns must be clean, airy, and disinfectants must be sprayed around the livestock area periodically,” Tuyen said.

Tuyen also mentions an issue concerning the animal feed market. The feed of unclear origin may contain anti-nutritional factors and toxins that are harmful to the health of livestock. Therefore, to ensure the health of the pigs, he chooses a reputable animal feed supplier with products of clear origin and guaranteed quality.

Thanks to clear insight and decisive actions in recent years, Tuyen's family farm has always been safe from disease. Tuyen's pig farm brings in an annual income of more than VND 1 billion just by applying biosecurity measures in a synchronized manner.

Ngo Dinh Tuan's wild boar farm in Xuan Giang commune (Tho Xuan district) operates a closed system from animal feed to the use of breeds. Wild boars at the farm are fed with agricultural by-products along with vegetables, bananas, and fruits, thereby ensuring disease safety and animal health. Tuan's organic wild boar farming model now sells hundreds of breeding pigs and commercial pigs to the market. After deducting expenses, he earns a profit of over VND 300 million.

“The farm meets 90% of its own feed supply needs at the moment, the rest is corn bran and rice bran purchased from outside. Being proactive on feed sources helps prevent diarrhea in pigs and other intestinal diseases. Instead of spending money on antibiotics to treat pigs after they are sick, I prioritize preventing disease for pigs by keeping the barn clean and maintaining the best farming environment,” Tuan said.

A recent report from Thanh Hoa Sub-Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health shows that the total pig herd in the province is currently estimated at 1.3 million. Pigs are mostly raised in concentrated forms on farms and dispersedly in households.

Concentrated farms all apply biosafety measures, strictly implement barn hygiene procedures, and control people and vehicles entering and leaving the farming area. The production chain is thoroughly managed from breeds, feed, water sources, and the livestock is fully vaccinated according to recommendations of the veterinary industry.

Aiming to continue to replicate the concentrated pig farming model, relevant departments and sectors are actively coordinating with localities to promote communication about the effectiveness of biosecurity in livestock farming. Local veterinary forces are also organizing more training and transfer sessions on safe livestock farming techniques to improve the skills of farmers.