VIENTIANE: A new study will explore avenues to improve cattle and goat breeds so they produce more meat, which would boost livestock productivity and create a stronger domestic meat industry.
The Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development Research Institute and China’s Fanxing animal husbandry technology company signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Vientiane on August 6 to assess the feasibility of establishing a research and demonstration centre for livestock breed improvement, according to a report in the Agriculture and Environment News.
The proposed centre would study the technical, economic and operational feasibility of introducing China’s Huaxi cattle breed and selected meat goat breeds for trial and development in Laos.
The partnership could help farmers gain access to improved breeds and modern production methods while supporting efforts to increase the quality and output of meat production.
The two parties will also study systems for the production of animal feed and vaccines, disease prevention, livestock services, and breeding methods.
These areas are important because stronger livestock production depends not only on better breeds, but also on animal health, good nutrition, and reliable farming services.
The partners also plan to explore smart farming and biotechnology, which could help farmers improve production and manage livestock more efficiently.
The initiative reflects the broader cooperation between Laos and China in the livestock sector, building on efforts to increase cattle production and strengthen trade between the two countries.
Over the past year or more, Laos has been allocated a quota of up to 500,000 head of cattle for sale to China, creating a huge potential market for Lao farmers and livestock producers.
The development of better breeds and farming systems could help Laos make greater use of this market by improving the quality, size and productivity of its cattle.
Cooperation on improved cattle genetics has already begun. Last year, Laos and China signed an agreement under which China will provide 100,000 doses of frozen semen and 10 Huaxi breeding bulls to Laos, according to the Lao News Agency.
This latest feasibility study could build on this work by bringing breeding, animal feed, disease control and livestock services together under a more systematic approach.
Deputy Director of the National Agricultural and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI), Mr Siriphon Phithaksoun, and Deputy Director General of the Department of Planning and Cooperation, Dr Phommy Inthichack, signed the agreement on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
The President of Fanxing animal husbandry technology company, Mr Fan Junjie, signed on behalf of the company.
The partnership could help link farmers with better breeding materials, feed, veterinary services and production techniques, allowing improvements to extend beyond individual farms.
The move comes as the government seeks to boost agricultural productivity and earn more revenue from higher sales. Livestock farming could play an important role in this effort because it provides farmers with an income while also supplying food for domestic and regional markets.
The partnership reflects the broader effort by Laos and China to use science and technology to modernise livestock production and strengthen agricultural trade between the two countries. - Vientiane Times/ANN
