Cow prices have dropped sharply and remained at a low level since 2022, causing difficulties for farmers in Ha Tinh. Farmers are having to reduce herds and “hang their cages” to avoid losses.
Dong Mon Cow Raising Cooperative (Dong Mon commune, Ha Tinh city) previously had 13 members raising fattened 3B cows with a total herd of about 100 cows. However, in recent years, the price of live cattle has dropped sharply, causing many difficulties.
Mr. Dang Dinh Luong – Director of the Cooperative said: “In the past, live cows were sometimes priced at 100,000 VND/kg, but from 2022 until now, the price has dropped to less than 80,000 VND/kg. In March 2024, we sold beef meet for only 75,000 VND/kg. To adapt to the market, we switched to raising breeding cows; At the same time, reduce the total herd to about 30 animals. In addition, cooperatives also take advantage of available natural feed sources such as straw, grass, agricultural by-products and take advantage of idle farm labor to minimize input costs to the lowest level.
Dong Mon Cattle Breeding Cooperative (Dong Mon Commune, Ha Tinh City) currently has only 2 members maintaining cow breeding.
Ms. Vu Thi Hanh’s family, residing in Thong Nhat village, Nam Dien commune (Thach Ha), has specialized in raising breeding cows for many years. At this time, the family has 6 mother cows and 6 calves ready for sale, but the market price is low, making Ms. Hanh worried.
Ms. Hanh shared: “For nearly 2 years, the family’s livestock farming situation has been difficult due to the sharp decrease in cow prices and no improvement trend. Although we have utilized agricultural by-products as animal feed, many times when we sell them, we only break even. My family is borrowing money from the bank to invest in livestock production, so the low price of cows is really a huge pressure.”
The prolonged low price of live cattle has caused farmers in the area to encounter many difficulties. Most livestock farmers are currently having to manage by reducing their herds, taking advantage of leisurely farm labor to reduce labor costs, and taking advantage of local food sources such as agricultural by-products and breed sources from mother cows.
According to calculations by farming households, a 3B cow can be raised for more than 1 year before being sold. With an initial breeding cost of 18 – 20 million VND, labor costs, food, electricity, water, veterinary medicine, etc., the selling price of beef must reach 80,000 VND/kg or more to be profitable. Meanwhile, the price of live cattle for more than 2 years has only been at 65,000 – 75,000 VND/kg.
Breeding households believe that too many foreign cows have been imported into Vietnam in recent times, leading to oversupply, which is the main reason why the price of domestically raised cattle has dropped sharply. The selling price is low, while the price of industrial animal feed has increased, so the more you raise, the more you lose. Therefore, many livestock households have to temporarily “hang their cages” waiting for signals from the market.
Ms. Tran Thi Dao (Co Dam commune, Nghi Xuan) said: “Previously, my family raised beef for sale, but stopped raising them for nearly a year because raising them was not profitable. The price of live beef in previous years fluctuated around 90,000 – 95,000 VND/kg, peaked at 110,000 VND/kg but now it is only about less than 75,000 VND/kg. There was a time when my family sold a cow for nearly 40 million VND, but with the same weight, last year it sold for less than 30 million VND. Not only are the prices low, but they are also difficult to sell. Traders come in to look but do not buy or force low prices. The price of live cows is still low, so my family has not considered raising them again.”
According to information from Ha Tinh Department of Livestock and Veterinary Medicine, the total herd of cows in the province currently reaches more than 164,000 cows, equal to 97.88% of the same period last year and is mainly raised by small farmers. The total herd of cows has decreased partly because prices have dropped sharply in recent times, so farmers have encountered difficulties and had to accept a reduction in herds. This is also a common situation in localities across the country today.
In a difficult context, people need to review and improve livestock management and continue to monitor the market to have appropriate livestock plans. At the same time, it is necessary to use effectively and take advantage of available food sources to reduce production costs; Focus on disease prevention to minimize damage.
Mr. Le Ha Giang – Deputy Head of Livestock Management Department, Ha Tinh Department of Livestock and Veterinary Medicine
Loan – Phuong
Source: Ha Tinh Newspaper