View of the conference
The conference was attended by representatives of a number of Ministries; leaders of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sub-Department of Livestock production and Veterinary; Animal breeding centers in some localities where grass fed cattle breeding is being developed; representatives of a number of grass-fed cattle breeding enterprises, related Associations and enterprises.
VinaCert Certification and Inspection Joint Stock Company had Mr. Nguyen Viet Hai, Director of Inspection attending the Conference.
The report of the Department of Livestock Production showed that presently, having a total of grass fed cattle about 2.4 million head countrywide, with most concentrated quantity in the Northern Midlands and Mountains provinces with about 1.4 million head.
Being evaluated as an advantageous commodity industry, however, the grass fed cattle breeding in Vietnam has not been developed as it’s potential yet. In the last 3 years ago, the total buffalo herd decreased slightly by 1.89%, the total cow herd increased by 2.75% on average. In particular, the growth rate of hybrid cattle is 4.27% / year; The growth rate of beef production yield is 4.11% / year.
The growth rate of dairy herd is 2.09% / year. In 2018, the average milk yield of milking cows was estimated over 5,000kg /per cow/ year countrywide, this was a quite high level. In particular, in some high-tech farms of Vinamilk, TH True milk, Moc Chau Dairy Cow Breeding Joint Stock Company, the average milk yield / day of dairy herd is 26.1 - 28 kg /per cow.
According to Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong, the grass fed cattle breeding industry has not been properly exploited, because new meat production yield is about 8.6%, while pork 70%, chicken 20%.
According to the Minister, the livestock industry is changing from small production to large-scale production with the production of 5.5 million tons of meat, 11 billion eggs, 1 million tons of milk, meeting the basic needs of 100 million people. In the period of 2016-2018, the export turnover value of milk and dairy products continuously increased from 84.47 USD millions in 2016 to 82.65 USD millions in 2017 and 129.68 USD millions in 2018. In the 1st quarter of 2019, the export turnover value of milk achieved 48.6 USD millions.
“However, it is difficult to implement, export turnover is still low. If there is no export, what will we do to restructure the industry, to share the sustainable profit for the chain? ”, the Minister said.
The Minister also asked for a quick restructuring of the large cattle breeding industry, it is considered an urgent need. Functional industry and localities need to gradually change from small-scale animal husbandry to farm and industrial scale, according to local reality; Livestock development planning associating with slaughter planning and consumption market.
Besides, it is necessary to promote trade activities, market forecast and look for opportunities to export products to potential markets. Linking the product chain from production to market, in which the enterprises play an important role
According to Dr. Tong Xuan Chinh - Deputy Director of Livestock Department: “ the report showed that in 2018, domestic grass-fed cattle meat yield achieving only 8.6% of total meat production. Milk consumption/ per person was only 27 kg / person / year in Vietnam, it is forecasted that by 2020, milk consumption will be about 28 kg / person / year.
Notably, the average beef consumption of Vietnamese people was 3.15 kg of meat / person / year in 2018, lower than the world average and some regional countries such as China, Japan, USA, EU ... ”, said Chinh.
According to Mr. Chinh, the grass fed cattle breeding industry is being gradually changed, the livestock method has made positive changes, forming many effective links in production, typically the chain of links in dairy farming accounts for 100% of links in the current agricultural production area; step by step forming modern dairy breeding and processing industry in the region and around the world ”.