Animal health

The differences came to the fore at an emergency meeting convened Thursday afternoon by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with 17 provinces and cities so far affected by the African swine flu. Pham Van Dong, director of Animal Health Department, said initial investigations indicate that many livestock farmers and traders have not fully realized the dangerous nature of the fever; and continue to trade, transport, slaughter and consume infected pigs. There are also those who engage in these activities for immediate benefit, disregarding the risks involved, the director said. The virus remains for long in its infected pig, in fresh meat, in the environment and even on tools. Meanwhile, small scale establishments with a high density of animals, where the farm is part of the farmers’ living environment; do not implement disease-prevention measures regularly. More than 23,000 pigs have been killed so far and the disease has mainly broken out in small households with … [Read more...] about Animal health, provincial officials differ on reasons for swine fever outbreak

The differences came to the fore at an emergency meeting convened Thursday afternoon by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with 17 provinces and cities so far affected by the African swine flu. Pham Van Dong, director of Animal Health Department, said initial investigations indicate that many livestock farmers and traders have not fully realized the dangerous nature of the fever; and continue to trade, transport, slaughter and consume infected pigs. There are also those who engage in these activities for immediate benefit, disregarding the risks involved, the director said. The virus remains for long in its infected pig, in fresh meat, in the environment and even on tools. Meanwhile, small scale establishments with a high density of animals, where the farm is part of the farmers’ living environment; do not implement disease-prevention measures regularly. More than 23,000 pigs have been killed so far and the disease has mainly broken out in small households with … [Read more...] about Animal health, provincial officials differ on reasons for swine flu outbreak

A freezing Hanoi has welcomed the 2019 New Year. Monkeys crawl into a wooden box and huddle together to ward off the cold. Pham Dinh Manh, head of the Hanoi Zoo Company Limited’s technical department, said on days when the temperature falls below 10 degrees Celsius, animals accustomed to tropical climate like hippos, oryxes and African lions are prone to shock. "We have to work in 24-hour shifts to adjust the heater thermostat and monitor the animals’ health." The elephants’ barn is covered with canvas and has six high-capacity air-conditioners turned on to keep warm. The pachyderms’ diet is supplemented with sugarcane, nutritional bran and vitamins. According to Nguyen Ngoc Anh, who takes care of the elephants, the animals tend to feel bored and irritable when kept indoors, and so he often has to visit and comfort them. Each Indochinese tiger cage is equipped with an oil heater. Visitors are not allowed near them. A worker checks a room heater in front of … [Read more...] about Hanoi zoo keeps animals warm amid freezing cold