1. THE COMMON RUMINANT LIVESTOCK IN VIETNAM Present by NGUYEN THI HONG TUOI

2. There are 8 agro-ecological zones. About 74% of the population lives in rural areas and 65% depend on agriculture for their livelihood. In Viet Nam ruminant production is based on small households; there are few large commercial units. Ruminant production is classified into dairy cattle, beef cattle, buffaloes and small ruminants. 3. Water buffalo used to consider the most valuable possession of poor farmers: the beginning of inheritance, treated as a member of the family: "The husband ploughs, the wife sows, water buffalo draws the rake and are friends of the children. Swamp buffalo rearing is a backyard activity with 99% in the hands of smallholders, for draught power since agricultural mechanization is developed the role of buffaloes is neglected. Even if soil preparation could be mechanized, the buffalo remains important for rural transport and meat. The total number of buffaloes kept 2.6 million head (58% in the North). WATER BUFFAL O 4. Belonging to swamp buffalos, Vietnamese ones are reared in different ecological areas for various purposes (draught power, meat and reproduction). With 2 groups Ngo buffalo and Gie buffalo The first farrow is 4-5 years of age, unclear come in-heat signs, calving interval is 1,5-2 years/farrow. Milk production (600-700kg a period lactation), high milk fat content (9-12%), low growth rate, low carcass ratio (43-48%). Vietnamese buffalosWATER BUFFALO 5. Murrah buffaloMurrah buffalo Derived from India and Pakistan A mature male buffalo weighs 700-750kg; the calf weighs at 30kg; shows in heat symptom at 30 months old. Milk productivity is 2500-2800kg/lactation of 9-10 months. Milk fat contents is 7-9%. Carcass ratio is 48%. WATER BUFFALO 6. Cattle were principally draught animals, which were only culled and used as meat animals at the end of their useful working lives. The beef cattle sector is the third largest sector in the livestock industry (5.1 million head in 2011). Most of meat consumed in supermarket, restaurants have imported fresh beef from Australia. The beef products available on the market are sourced from Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. BEEF CATTLE 7. Vietnam's Cattle Population by Region in 2009 Region '000 Head % Red River delta 603 11.4 Northern midlands and mountains 924 16.9 North central and central coast area2,144 40.8 Central highlands 689 11.7 South East 408 7.8 Mekong River delta 665 11.4 Total 5,436 100.0 Source: General Statistics Office of Vietnam BEEF CATTLE 8. Structure of the beef cattle farming sector O Extensive calf-cow grazing systems O Intensive calf-cow systems O Cattle fattening systems BEEF CATTLE 9. {{ The indigenous cattle are small inThe indigenous cattle are small in size, have low performance in meatsize, have low performance in meat and milk production, but they canand milk production, but they can adapt well with harsh conditions,adapt well with harsh conditions, and have good reproductionand have good reproduction capacity.capacity. The fertility is fairly good, matingThe fertility is fairly good, mating period starts at 15-18 months old,period starts at 15-18 months old, early first farrowing age is at 30-32early first farrowing age is at 30-32 months, quite short reproductivemonths, quite short reproductive interval about 13-15 month/calving.interval about 13-15 month/calving. Low milk production is about 300-Low milk production is about 300- 400kg/lactation, high milk fat400kg/lactation, high milk fat content (5,5%)content (5,5%) Low growth rate, results in lowLow growth rate, results in low carcass ratio (42-45%).carcass ratio (42-45%). Vietnamese cattle breedsVietnamese cattle breeds 10. Beef cattle breeds 11. Status of the sector Dairy farming was first introduced to Vietnam at the beginning of the 20th century. However, it was not until 1990 that dairy farming has become a real goods production. With 120,000 out of 174,000 cows raised in 19,000 households nationwide in 2013, producing 420,000 tons of milk served 30% of the domestic market, 70% of domestic demand for milk had to be met with imports primarily made up of sterilized, reconstituted milk. Vietnam remains one of the top 20 milk-importing countries, importing around US$841 million of milk in 2012. DAIRY CATTLE 12. The Regional Location of the Dairy Herd Across Vietnam Region % of Dairy Herd North East 5 North West 7 Red River Delta 12 North Central Coast 4 South Central Coast 4 Central Highlands 3 South East 58 Mekong Delta 7 Total 100 DAIRY CATTLE 13. Structure of the dairy farming Ownership of 215 animals and a small area with crops or pasture, are availability of suitable animals, feed resources and improved feeding systems, improved breeding, reproduction and animal health care, management of animal manure, and organized marketing and marketing outlets. There are a very small number of larger commercial dairy farms. Vinamilk and TH Milk operate larger sized dairy farms. Vinamilk continues to develop its supply capabilities and its senior management reported importing more than 2,000 dairy cattle in 2010. TH Milk, which is Vietnamese privately owned, is investing in development of: a very large dairy farming operation. It has plans to supply 50% of Vietnam's milk by 2017. DAIRY CATTLE 14. Dairy cattle breeds O 15% pure bred Holstein Friesian O 1% Jersey cattle O The rest of cross breeding between Holstein Friesian dairy cattle, and Red Sindhi and local Yellow Cows. Dairy Cattle Herd Structure by Dairy Cattle Gene Content in 2006 (%) National Herd Northern Region Herd Southern Region Herd Holstein Friesian 15 35 8 Jersey 1 2 - F1 24 33 21 F2 25 17 28 F3 22 9 24 >F3 13 4 19 Total 100 100 100 % of national herd 100 17 65 DAIRY CATTLE 15. Key dairy products Powder milk Liquid milk Condensed milk Yogurt DAIRY CATTLE 16. The Goat sector is mainly privately owned and based on extensive rearing with 72.7% in the North. They are also found in coastal regions of Central Vietnam (21.3%). Only 6.3% are in South Vietnam. Most goats are privately-owned by smallholders with an average of 57 animals. In forests, mountainous and hilly regions, many farms keep 100-200 goats. Goats are kept in fields during the day, at night they are housed without feed or water in the North, but in the South they are penned or tethered under fruit trees. Dairy goats are kept in pens with feed and water. The goat and sheep sector (1.3 million head in 2012) 17. The sheep population in Vietnam is small with an increasing tendency. Sheep are mainly raised in the South Central coast of Vietnam, namely the Phanrang sheep. This breed adapts well to the dry and hot climate and low feed quality of this region. The goat and sheep sector (1.3 million head in 2012) 18. Feeding systems In the South-eastern region, Green maize can solve the year-round green fodder supply for cattle, and especially in the dry season. In the North Central and South Central Coast, where fattening of one or a few cattle is common, fresh grass, cane tops, maize stover, and rice straw are supplemented with fresh Leucaena leucocephala leaves. Some farmers feed a concentrate mixture at 0.5% of the animals body weight. In rice growing areas, weeds constitute about half of the feed with rice straw and other crop residues. Animals are stall fed and tethered in uncropped and idle land during the growing period of the rice. Urea Treated Rice Straw (UTRS) is the most suitable method of improving the quality of rice straw and increasing crude protein concentration and rumen degradability. Cassava tops and sugar cane can be ensiled by conventional methods, with or without additives. Ensiling reduces cyanogen content markedly by HCN volatilisation and to a lesser extent, the tannin content of the raw materials. A supplement of cassava top silage, especially with a molasses additive, to a grass diet of dairy heifers, increased the dry matter and digestible crude protein intake (Man and Wiktorsson, 2001). 19. Animal health situation The prevalence of many animal diseases in Vietnam is influenced by nutrition stress, climate, animal production system, breed, and pattern of animal transportation and exchange. Animal diseases cause a tremendous economic loss in animal production in Vietnam. The imported exotic breeds of livestock with high productivity are normally more susceptible to disease than indigenous animals. Many infectious diseases are found in Vietnam caused by virus (FMD), bacteria (Pasteurellosis) and parasites (Faciolosis) The animal diseases, vaccines, drugs, and additives are controlled by the Animal Health department, the six regional veterinary centers, and the veterinary sub- department in each province. The veterinary network covers to community level. The majority of veterinary vaccines used in Vietnam are manufactured in the two vaccines factories, which operate as self-financing Government Enterprises and are under the control of the National Center of Veterinary drug Control-Animal Health department.