Ministry sets livestock export plans
Ministry sets livestock export plans
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has set a plan to im prove livestock breeding and facilitate the export of 80,000-100,000 head of cattle and buffaloes.
Last year, the country could export a total of 114,000 head to neighbouring countries, which comprised 110,000 head of cattle, the ministry reported.
At present, the livestock breeding process around the country is shifting from traditional methods to farming systems for industrial processing.
Most livestock operations are based in Vientiane, Xayaboury, Luang Prabang, Khammuan, Savannakhet, Champassak and Vientiane provinces.
The number of livestock farms increased about 10 percent last year on the previous year, up from 1,247 farms to 1,370 farms.
Lao Fresh Meats Co, Ltd is one of the meat suppliers providing world class premium quality and safe local meat products incorporating the most modern processing methods in Laos.
To promote livestock breeding and sustainable growth for domestic supply and export, the ministry is focusing on seven main activities.
These include breeding pairs, animal feed, vaccine supply and treatment, animal management and movement, slaughterhouses and meat processing and vegetarian capacity building.
As a result of these activities, the number of livestock increased by an average of 5.2 percent. There were some 1.18 million head of buffaloes compared to the same time in 2015, while the total number of cattle in the country reached 1.92 million head, an increase of five percent.
Currently, Xieng Khuang province has attracted investment from Lao-Japan Agro Development Xieng Khuang Company Limited, which has grown pasture grasses and imported cattle from Australia.
According to an official from the province's Livestock and Fisheries section, in 2015 Xieng Khuang imported more than 800 cattle from Australia and authorities have crossbred over 300 cattle with local breeds.
Beef production in Xieng Khuang has proven to be cost effective over its wide expanses of land an d the province plans to import about 1,000 cattle from Australia this year, an increase of almost 50 percent compared to the previous year.
