Nghe An proactively protects livestock from extreme weather

Response efforts of livestock farmers

Border Guard propagates and helps people reinforce their houses and protect them from the cold. — The Border Guard propagates and helps people reinforce their houses and cover their barns to protect them from the cold. Photo: Hai Thuong

For the past two days, in the border commune of Na Ngoi, the temperature has dropped and frost has appeared, so Mr. Gia Xai Phia, from Buoc Mu 2 village, had to herd his herd of 6 cows back to the barn to take care of them. “In warm and sunny weather, we mainly graze them in the forest and on the fields, and we go up every day to look after them and feed them with salt. Now, the temperature has dropped and the grass and trees have frozen, so we have to bring the cows back to the barn, cut grass for them to eat, cover the barn and light a fire to keep them warm,” said Mr. Phia. These days, officers and soldiers of Na Ngoi Border Guard Station have also gone to households to propagate and mobilize people to prevent hunger and cold for their livestock; and support people in covering their barns.

In Tuong Duong commune, winter came early this year, the temperature for many consecutive days was only 15 - 17 degrees Celsius, high humidity and cold wind made the barns wet, livestock susceptible to respiratory and digestive diseases. Identifying this as a locality with a large area and harsh climate, the People's Committee of the commune has developed a plan to prevent cold from the beginning of the winter season, at the same time, assigned cadres to closely follow each village, guiding people to deploy appropriate technical measures.

Village officials in Tuong Duong commune encourage livestock farmers to bring their livestock back to their homes during the cold and rainy season. Photo: TP

Ms. Luong Thi Hien - Head of the Economic Department of Tuong Duong Commune said: "We have established working groups to go to each village, coordinate with the village chief to check the barns, instruct people to cover them from the wind, burn firewood properly and proactively store green food. For large animals such as buffaloes and cows, feeding them enough food, supplementing minerals and providing warm water is very important to maintain resistance."

Mrs. Quang Thi Loan's family (Vang Mon village, Tam Thai commune) raises 50 goats in a shed more than 1 km from their house. On cold days, she covers the barn, burns firewood to keep warm and prepares food including grass, neem leaves, and agricultural by-products to ensure the goats do not suffer from hunger and cold. "Goats are quite cold-resistant, but prolonged cold and rain can easily cause bloating, diarrhea, and even stop eating. Therefore, whenever it rains and is cold, I proactively lock the barn, increase the food portion, and add warm water," said Mrs. Quang Thi Loan.

Ms. Quang Thi Loan, Vang Mon village, Tam Thai commune lights a fire to warm her herd of goats. Photo: T.P — Ms. Quang Thi Loan, Vang Mon village, Tam Thai commune lights a fire to warm her herd of goats. Photo: TP

Meanwhile, in Phu Tan hamlet, Tay Hieu ward, the model of fermenting goat feed is proving to be extremely effective in preparing winter feed sources. Mr. Nguyen Trong Hung, a household raising about 100 meat goats, said that for the past 3 years, his family has been completely proactive in providing roughage in winter thanks to fermenting raw materials from grass, corn, and peanuts after harvest. Each fermenting barrel costs about 1 million VND, can be used for 3 months, helping to save 30-35% of feed costs and significantly reduce intestinal diseases in goats.

Not only in mountainous areas, but also in the plains, livestock farms are actively responding to the cold. In Van Kieu commune, Mr. Dang Hoang Thuyet, owner of a chicken farm with a scale of 150,000 chickens/batch, said that closed barns, biological bedding and heating systems help keep the internal temperature stable, reducing heat shock for the chickens. Before entering winter, the farm has supplemented vitamins, minerals and fully vaccinated to increase resistance.

chicken theory — Increasing the thickness of the biological bedding layer to keep Dang Hoang Thuyet's chickens warm. Photo: TP

Along with measures at the barn, information and propaganda work is also considered important by many localities. Weather forecasts are broadcast continuously through loudspeaker systems and Zalo and Facebook groups in villages and hamlets, helping people promptly grasp developments and implement appropriate solutions. Thanks to that, entering the period of extreme weather, major damage is reduced.

Strengthen veterinary and barn management

According to the forecast of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, from December 2025 to January 2026, the cold air waves can cause prolonged cold, accompanied by frost and ice in many high mountainous areas of Nghe An . This is the time when livestock's resistance is significantly reduced, especially old and weak buffaloes and cows, small livestock and aquatic species that are not resistant to cold.

People proactively bring livestock to the barn for convenient care during cold days. Photo: TP

Since November 17, many localities in the province have recorded a sharp drop in temperature, directly affecting livestock. Mr. Lo Van Ngoan in Hung Chan commune said that his family always prepares tarps to cover the barns, boils warm water mixed with corn flour for buffaloes and cows to eat 1-2 times a day to keep their bodies warm. "On very cold days, absolutely do not let them roam freely, just being exposed to rain and wind makes buffaloes and cows very susceptible to disease. In addition, we also proactively vaccinate them against foot and mouth disease," said Mr. Ngoan.

Faced with the risk of prolonged cold, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Nghe An has issued Official Dispatch No. 10801/SNNMT-CNTY to the People's Committees of communes and wards requesting the synchronous implementation of measures to prevent hunger and cold.

vaccination — Tien Phong Commune proactively vaccinates livestock before the cold period. Photo: TP

Localities must mobilize forces to conduct direct inspections at the facility, instruct people to reinforce barns, cover them from the wind, handle humidity and stock up on food. At the same time, the Department of Agriculture requires strict implementation of instructions on covering and reinforcing barns, increasing bedding to keep warm, and handling waste daily to limit pathogens.

Nutritionally, the diet must be supplemented with starch, vitamins, digestive enzymes and electrolytes. Drinking water for animals on cold days must be warmed to avoid heat shock.

Install heating bulbs to increase temperature for pigs. Photo: TP

Mr. Tran Vo Ba - Deputy Head of the Provincial Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine emphasized that this year, severe cold is forecast to appear in many waves, the length of which may be longer than the average of many years. If only carelessly protected, without proper nutrition, livestock can easily weaken and suffer damage. We request localities to implement early, synchronously and substantially, not to be passive when severe cold appears.

Source: https://baonghean.vn/nghe-an-chu-dong-bao-ve-dan-vat-nuoi-truoc-thoi-tiet-cuc-doan-10313340.html