TRAVEL REPORT: Dr Colin Cargill
CENTRAL VIETNAM – 8
th
to 23
rd
November 2007

CARD Project (424 7155 01 004/05VIE)

A blueprint for sustainable small holder pig production in Central Vietnam

Participating Agencies:
Vietnam:
National Institution of Animal Husbandry (NIAH) – Dept of Small Livestock Research
Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry (HUAF) – Faculty of Animal Sciences
National Institute of Veterinary Research (NIVR) – Dept of Bacteriology
Department of Agricultural and Rural Development of Quang Tri Province
Vietnamese farmer Association – Thua Thien Hue
Australia:
The University of Queensland – School of Veterinary Science
South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI)
Department of Primary Industries Victoria – Pig Health and Research Unit

Report Date – May 2008 OBJECTIVES

1. To travel to Ho Chi Minh City:
a. To meet with Dr Tony Fahy and Mr Patrick Daniel
b. To visit Dr Dong Manh Hoa, Director Regional Animal Health Office No.6

Dr Hoang Duyet
Lecturer – Faculty of Animal
Science
Hue University of Agriculture
and Forestry
Ho Ngoc Phuong
Faculty of Animal Science Hue University of Agriculture
and Forestry
Mr Ngo Huu Toan
Lecturer – Faculty of Animal
Science
Hue University of Agriculture
and Forestry
Mr Dang Bien Department of Small Livestock
Research
National Institution of Animal
Husbandry
Mr Au Tuan
Department of Bacteriology National Institute of Veterinary
Research
Mr Anh Extension Officer Department Agriculture Quang
Tri Province
Mr Dao Van Hop Chairman Hai Lang Commune, Quang Tri
Province
Dr Nguyen Que Coi. Director – Thuy Phuong Pig
Research Centre
National Institute of Animal
Husbandry
Associate Professor Cu Huu
Phu

Visit to Regional Animal Health Office No.6
Meeting with catholic relief Services
11
th
November HCMC

HCMC to Hue: depart 15:00 / arrive 16:20
12
th
November Hue

Confined to hotel due to flooding
13
th
November Hue

Meetings with Professor Linh, Dr Duyet, Mr Toan, and Mr
Phuong Re: schedule for visits to Hue and Quang Tri
14
th
November Hue

Farm visits – Hue Province
15
th
– 16
th
Nov

Hue Farm visits in Quang Tri Province

Visit to National Centre for Veterinary Diagnosis
23
rd
November Ha Noi Meeting with World Vision re Indonesian Projects

24
th
– 25
th
Nov Ha Noi Free

26
th
Nov Ha Noi Meetings with CIP Farmer Training Program Co-ordinators

27
th
November Ha Noi Ha Noi to Singapore: depart 13:30 / arrive 18:00
Singapore to Adelaide: depart 23:50
28
th
November

Adelaide Arrive Adelaide 09:05 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND REVIEW OF PROGRESS


Mr Bien has undertaken to have the demonstration farms in Quang Tri Province ready by January
2008.

A query was raised about a line in the project budget for the supply of gilts, but on checking the
budget no line was noted. No effort is being made to supply farrowing crates as these are
generally too expensive. The cost of imported crates ranges from around 3 million VND (AUD$
214) from China to around 7 million VND (AUD$ 500) from Europe. However, a local
manufacturer could be able to build a model at more reasonable cost.

The major problems identified in piggeries in both provinces included:
1. Ventilation – In many sheds there was a lack of adequate ventilation, even in well
designed sheds with optimal side wall openings. Farmers cover the openings with plastic
bags and are reluctant to remove them, even when it is warm and not raining. Part of the
problem is that it is time consuming to open them. Hence a demonstration on how to
make a roll down/roll up blind out of the plastic bags would be useful. In one farm visited
in Thua Thien Hue Province, the value of a ridge vent was demonstrated with the aid of
Mr Tuan’s cigarette smoke. Even with the side wall openings closed, the smoke was
eliminated from the shed through the ridge vent. In the section with no ridge vent it just
hung in the air space above the pens. Increasing the length of eaves to protect pigs from
direct sun in fine weather and rain in wet weather would also pay dividends.

2. Creep Boxes – Although the creep boxes are popular and on most farms visited the
majority of piglets were sleeping inside the box. While the heating bulbs were probably
too weak, in my opinion, and based on experience from Papua where villages do not have
electricity, a heating lamp is probably not needed after about the 3
rd
or 4
th
day post-
farrowing. Cold piglets were often observed on farms where no creep box was available

5. Water – The majority of farms failed to provide water on a continuous basis, even for
lactating sows and this needs urgent attention and promotion.

6. Records – Sow records were observed on some of the farms visited in Thua Thien Hue
Province, but none of the farms in Quang Tru Province. It would help in the evaluation of
the project if sow and litter records were kept on all farms and if a few farms in each
Province were selected for more detailed recording. Litter sizes on the farms visited
ranged from 2 to 15 but it was not always possible to obtain data on “born alives” verses
total born and number weaned. It would also be helpful to have validation of the number
of litters farrowed/sow/year, as most farmers used AI for mating sows and many did not
have boars. We have increased productivity significantly in Indonesia by providing boar
stations in villages so that sows have contact with a boar immediately after weaning.
Whether this strategy would help with Mon Chai is unknown.

7. Weaning – Weaning age varied between the 2 Provinces. In Thua Thien Hue Province
pigs tend to be weaned at around 45 days and sold at around 60 days at 10 – 12 kg
liveweight and sold at 30,000 VND/kg. If grown out to 90 to 100kg the price falls to
17,000 VND/kg. in Quang Tri Province the majority of piglets were weaned at around 35
days (6 kg) and exported to China.

8. Vaccination and medication – Many farmers visited did not appear to know about
vaccination or the availability of vaccines or the appropriate use of medicines. In the one
medicine shop visited in Quang Tri little information was available on appropriate
medication for pigs and no vaccines were available. Dr Tony Fahy has offered to provide
an updated medication, and treatment list as well as a vaccination schedule for farms to
follow. This will prove extremely valuable in achieving improved pig health on farm.

9. Piggery buildings attached the family home – A major problem identified is the “lean-to”
or “skillion” piggery attached to the family home. These structures raise issues of hygiene
and human health risks, as well as odour and waste management problems. I would like

live exotic (sold at around 90kg lw) is 2.2 million VND (AUD$ 157.00).

MEETING WITH CARD PROJECT TEAM AT NIVR – HA NOI
Those attending: Dr Phu and Mr Toan (NIVR), Dr Qoi and Mr Bien (NIAH), Prof Linh
(HUAFF), Dr Tony Fahy and Mr Patrick Daniels (PHRU – DPI Victoria) and Dr Colin Cargill
(SARDI).

Following discussion and a review of progress in each Province NIAH have undertaken to have
their demonstration farms supplied with creep boxes and gilts by the end of January 2008. While
this is well behind scheduled it should still enable the project to be completed on time.

It was generally agreed that we need to provide farmers with more information about medication
and vaccination and the use of creep boxes and managing ventilation. Some farmers will also
need advice on renovation and even designs for new free-standing pig sheds.
It was decided to develop a kit and provide one to each farm, as well as to extension veterinarians
and technicians. The kit should include:
• an explanation of why it is important to provide a warm constant temperature for pigs
pre-and post-weaning, and why it is important to provide a cooler temperature for sows;
• an explanation for the use of creep boxes plus design, dimensions, construction
information, and cost;
• a copy of pig building plans developed by Dr Duyet and Mr Bien along with costs and
instructions;
• an explanation on why providing adequate ventilation is important and how to construct
and operate blinds that cover side wall openings and easily operated.
• A vaccination guide and list of vaccines available and suppliers;
• A treatment guide with medicines available and what to use for different clinical signs;
• A feeding guide (to be prepared by Mr Phuong) that would include how to provide a
balance diet at reduced cost by diluting commercial diets with locally grown crops – note
I will ask Dr Phil Glatz from SARDI who has successfully developed this strategy in
PNG and the Solomons to provide Mr Phuong with details);

National Pig Society and provide a good venue for extending the project outcomes stated above
to the Vietnamese Pig Industry. Possibilities for funding include CARD and Crawford Fund.

VISIT TO REGIONAL ANIMAL HEALTH OFFICE No.6

The visit to the Regional Animal Health Office (No.6) in Ho Chi Minh City was to gain an
understanding about the official animal health services in Vietnam in an attempt to find
connections between the project and the farming community we wish to influence. Nationally
Vietnam is divided into 7 Regional Animal Health Districts and Hue is situated in No.4. Each
Region is regarded as a sub-Department of Animal Health and is divided into Districts with an
Animal Health Centre in each District. Within the district there are a number of village animal
health teams. The latter are responsible for vaccination programs for major diseases such as CSF
and FMD, as well as disease control and eradication and public health. However, their role in day
to day health problems on the farm is limited as is their contact with small holder farmers.