Inside Vietnam's only "warrior horse" camp with a mission to save lives.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Suoi Dau Horse Farm (Khanh Hoa) is the only place in Vietnam that raises horses for serum production. Here, these "warrior horses" are strictly cared for to create antibodies that save lives.

The Suoi Dau livestock farm, belonging to the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biological Products ( Ministry of Health ), is located in Suoi Dau commune (Khanh Hoa province), more than 20km south of Nha Trang city center.

This breeding farm is responsible for supplying raw serum extracted from horses to the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biological Products for refining and producing serums to treat dangerous human diseases such as tetanus, diphtheria, rabies, and snakebite poisoning.

Inside a horse farm used for rescuing people ( Video : Trung Thi).

The entrance to the Suoi Dau livestock farm is over 500 meters long and is equipped with two layers of security gates to reduce external influences and limit the risk of bringing pathogens into the breeding area.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Minh, head of the Suoi Dau livestock farm, this facility was founded in 1896 by the French scientist A. Yersin. The photo shows a statue of scientist A. Yersin located at the Suoi Dau livestock farm.

A horse stable built by the French remains intact to this day at the Suoi Dau livestock farm.

Mr. Minh said the center currently raises nearly 400 adult horses for the production of serum to save lives. This is also the only horse farm in Vietnam licensed to carry out this task.

Viewed from above, the horse farms are built in neat, well-organized rows, with pathways and stables arranged scientifically.

Mr. Nguyen Long Ho, a horse caretaker at Suoi Dau farm, said that due to their special mission, the horses are given a high-standard diet, consisting of 18-22 kg of fresh grass and 2.5-3 kg of concentrated feed per horse per day, provided on time and in the correct quantities.

"The health status of each individual horse at the facility is regularly monitored, and management records are fully updated according to regulations," Mr. Ho said.

The vast fields are irrigated by an automated system, providing a clean and abundant source of grass for the horses at the Suoi Dau livestock farm.

On days off, when no serum is being drawn, the horses are released into open fields to sunbathe and exercise.

Mr. Nguyen Van Minh stated that the horses brought to the farm are carefully selected from breeding facilities in many provinces and cities nationwide, ensuring they meet the standards of being 4-6 years old, weighing over 230kg, free from deformities and diseases, and possessing the required hematological and biochemical indicators. Once they meet the criteria, each individual is assigned a unique identification number and a separate tracking file is created for the purpose of serum extraction.

According to Mr. Minh, on average, each horse is used for serum extraction over 3-5 years, 9 times a year. Each extraction is calculated at a rate of 1.5% of body weight. The process follows established technical standards, ensuring safety, humanity, and no adverse effects on the horse's health.

With its current herd of horses, the Suoi Dau farm supplies more than 12,000 liters of raw serum annually to the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biological Products for refining and producing various types of serum as needed. The photo shows a horse being prepared for serum extraction.

Location of Suoi Dau livestock farm (Photo: Google Maps).

Serum collection procedure at Suoi Dau farm

Mr. Nguyen Van Minh, head of the Suoi Dau livestock farm, said that horses were chosen as hosts for serum production because of their ability to produce high and stable antibodies when immunized with appropriate antigens or vaccines.

With their large blood volume, horses allow for the collection of plasma at prescribed rates while maintaining their health, meeting the requirements for large-scale serum production.

The serum collection process at Suoi Dau farm is carried out in strict steps. The horses are cared for with a special diet and their health is monitored regularly, then they are injected with appropriate antigens or vaccines to stimulate the body to produce antibodies against toxins.

Once the antibody levels reach the required concentration, blood is drawn from the horse and sent to a specialized facility for extraction to obtain serum containing the antibodies. These products are used in the treatment of snake bites, tetanus, diphtheria, and rabies.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/ben-trong-trai-chien-binh-ngua-duy-nhat-o-viet-nam-mang-su-menh-cuu-nguoi-20260211115637993.htm