Tightens hygiene management from large to small slaughterhouses

In the context of the recent administrative unit merger, Vinh Long province has expanded its operating area, so the demand for slaughter has increased manifold. The risk of reduced food safety from slaughterhouses to the market is very high if not thoroughly controlled.

Information from the Sub-Department of Livestock Production, Animal Health and Fisheries of Vinh Long province shows that the veterinary force has been mobilized to deploy 24/7 control at concentrated slaughterhouses.

The monitoring work is implemented synchronously from the stage of checking live animals before putting them in the slaughterhouse, supervising the slaughter process according to the five prescribed steps, to the product inspection after slaughter. Veterinary staff periodically take samples and demand disinfection after each slaughter session. The ultimate goal is to guarantee the supply of clean products to the market.

Nam Thang poultry slaughterhouse in Thanh Duc ward has a capacity of more than 2,000 chickens per night. Veterinary staff are assigned to work from 11pm to 5am the next morning to check hygiene and monitor each batch of chicken before it is brought to market.

“Six hours before slaughtering, we will check the condition of the live animals. If the chickens are from the province, they must have a certificate of H5N1 flu vaccination, and if the chickens are from other provinces, they must have a quarantine certificate from the related stations," says Nguyen Van Tung, a veterinary officer at Thanh Duc ward.

Veterinary staff regularly inspect and remind the facility owner to strictly follow the regulations. Every night after work, the facility must disinfect the entire slaughter area. Waste is used as fish feed in order to save money and limit pollution. All imported goods in the Nam Thang poultry slaughterhouse have clear origins. Thanks to ample efforts, after many years of operation, no violations have been recorded from this slaughter facility.

Tang Quoc Thang, owner of Nam Thang slaughterhouse, says, “We only import chickens from farms with disease-free certificates. Thanks to the camera surveillance system, I can monitor each stage 24/7 to promptly correct any staff who do not follow the slaughtering procedures correctly.”

In the case of Vinh Xuan commune, Chin Quan facility slaughters 20 pigs per day on average, mainly serving the needs of the province. Despite being a slaughterhouse operating on a small scale, the control work cannot be neglected.

“Right from the afternoon, we check the health of the pigs to detect early signs of infectious diseases. We always monitor the slaughter process to prevent water injection, sedative injection, or importing pigs of unknown origin. Pigs entering the slaughterhouse must have a veterinary certificate from the farm and a clear record of their origin. If the pigs are from outside the province, they must have a quarantine certificate attached before entering the facility," says Huynh Long Vinh, slaughter control officer working at Chin Quan.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment of Vinh Long province emphasizes the importance of strengthening control at slaughterhouses as a measure to prevent the risk of unsanitary food entering the market.

This province is transforming the livestock farming from small-scale to concentrated and larger-scale models. The aim is to improve productivity and product quality. Localities have synchronously deployed many measures to follow the trend, such as implementing the "Month of general cleaning, disinfection, and environmental detoxification", or proactively vaccinating and preventing disease outbreaks.

The old Vinh Long area currently has 34 animal slaughterhouses, including 17 pig slaughterhouses, 2 cattle slaughterhouses, 3 poultry slaughterhouses, 2 pig-cow-poultry slaughterhouses, 2 pig-cow slaughterhouses and 2 pig-poultry slaughterhouses. On average, each day, these facilities supply the market with over 850 pigs, 70 cattle and 4,500 poultry.

As for the old Ben Tre area, there are 5 small-scale concentrated slaughterhouses working on 5 - 20 pigs per day, along with nearly 200 small-scale slaughterhouses, and the old Tra Vinh now has 12 concentrated slaughterhouses.

According to Le Van Dong, Deputy Director of Vinh Long Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health, starting from September, the province will carry out the second vaccination campaign against avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease, and lumpy skin disease, while continuing to promote African swine fever vaccination.