Blueprint Pig Production Development in Small Households In Central Region, Vietnam (Sub-component implemented in Quang Tri provinces) " pptx

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Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development

Project Progress Report


SIX-MONTHLY REPORT (Jan. to June 2008)


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1. Institute Information
Project Name
Blueprint Pig Production Development in Small
Households In Central Region, Vietnam
(Sub-component implemented in Quang Tri provinces)
Vietnamese Institution
National Institute of Animal Husbandry
Vietnamese Project Team Leader
Dr. Ta Thi Bich Duyen
Australian Organisation
Dr. Darren Trott
Australian Personnel
Dr. Colin Cargill
Date commenced

Completion date (original)

Completion date (revised)

Reporting period
Jan. to June 2008
Contact Officer(s)
In Australia: Team Leader
Name:
Dr. Darren Trott
Telephone:

Position:

Fax:

Organisation

Email:


In Australia: Administrative contact
Name:
Dr. Colin Cargill
Telephone:

Position:

Fax:

Organisation

Email:

In Vietnam
Name:
Dr. Ta Thi Bich Duyen
Telephone:
84 4 22411195
Position:
Leader
Fax:
84 4 3 8389775
Organisation
National Institute of Animal
Husbandry
Email:



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1. Results obtained in 2007
1.1. Investigation and interview:
270 households were investigated and interviewed. After analysing the investigated data, 30
households in Hai Thuong and Hai Phu communes, Hai Lang district were selected to
participate in the project. Each selected household has about from 3 to 15 Mong Cai sows.
All selected households like to raise pigs, learn and share technical knowledge in pig
production.

1.2. Training:
Two training courses on raising Mong Cai (MC) sows were conducted in March and June,
2007 in pilot province with 30 selected farmers. Three trainers are researchers of National
Institute of Animal Husbandry. They provided trainees with background knowledge and skill

in sow production. Main contents of a training course consisted of 3 parts:
- Raising techniques (Dr. Duyen)
- Pig house design (Mr. Bien)
- Veterinary: disease prevention and treatment (Dr. Tuyên)
Training method: using participatory training approaches: get leaner-centered, raise questions
cause the brainstorming to the trainees and group discussion

1.3. Consulting and supporting for pig house design and building at households.
The researchers of NIAH along with the farmers to evaluate current status of each pig shed.
Since then the researchers consult the farmers to repair, upgrade or build new pig premise
according to the standard: the lighting, the ventilation, size and environmental sanitation.
Pig sheds in each farmer household are designed 3 pen types for lactating sow, pregnant sow
or farrowing sow and fattening pig. Each pig pen type has different size. The number of pig
pen in each selected farmer household depend on number of sows, fattening pigs that farmers
intend to raise.

1.4. Consulting and supporting for Mong Cai gilt.
Based on requirement of selected farmer households and technical staffs in the Livestock
Division, Department of Agriculture and rural Development, Mong Cai herds in Quang Tri
province should be improved by importing Mong Cai gilt from Mong Cai’s hometown in
Northern parts of Vietnam.
The researchers of NIAH signed a contract with Mong Cai breeding Cooperative in Tang
Tien district, Bac giang province in May 2007 to buy Mong Cai gilts with high quality. Due
to foot and mouth disease occurred in Quang Tri province from June to September, the
planning to buy Mong Cai gilts in 2007 delayed until the earlier of 2008.

2. Work content conducted during the first 6 months of the year 2008
2.1. Consulting and supporting creep boxes for piglet.

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In January, 30 creep boxes were delivered to 30 selected farmer households to warm up
piglets. Creep boxes were provided for farmer households at the coldest time of the year, so
they have positive effects on piglets. After suckling, piglets lied on inside creep box;
therefore they were not affected by environmental temperature, leading to decrease diarrhea
and piglet abortion. Some farmers who have more than one piglet litter made creep boxes by
themselves followwing the creep box design of the project.

2.2. Consulting and supporting for shed design and build at farmer households.
For up to now, 30 households participating in the project (12 households in Hai Phu
commune and 18 households in Hai Thuong commune) were consulted and supported fund
to repair, upgrade or build new pig houses in order to meet certain requirements regarding the
lighting, the ventilation, the size of pig houses and environmental sanitation. Currently, 6
households have built new pig sheds by the shed design of the project officers (please see
attached file: Pig house design in QT). That is households follow as:
- Phan Dinh Trang, Thuong Xa village, Hai Thuong commune
- Phan Dinh Quy, Thuong Xa village, Hai Thuong commune
- Le Thi Hoa, Thuong Xa village, Hai Thuong commune
- Tran Luong Cuong, Thuong Xa village, Hai Thuong commune
- Dao Dan, Dai An Khe village, Hai Thuong commune
- Le Dinh Danh, Phu Hung village, Hai Phu commune
- Nguyen The, Phu Hung village, Hai Phu commune

2.3. Consulting and supporting for buying Mong Cai gilts
In March 2008, 50 Mong Cai gilts were selected at Mong Cai breeding Cooperative in Tang
Tien district, Bac Giang province. All Mong Cai gilts were vaccinated not only for the
popular diseases stipulated by the law of Animal Health in Vietnam, but also for the Foot
and Mouth disease (type O2), PRRS disease with 20 days saved in Bac Giang province. They
were then transferred to Quang Tri province and raised in 20 days before distributing to
selected households on 1
st

May 2008. The total costs incurred during 20 days saved in Bac
Giang province to wait for vaccination effects and 20 day - raising in Quang Tri before
distributing to selected households are AU$ 6080.5.(see attached file: Costs of maintain
selected MC pigs).
Unfortunately, in 50 Mong Cai pigs bought in April 2008 there were four pigs was died and
culled up to now: a pig died due to nerve disease (go round, effervescent edges then died)
and a pig sick so blood outside the skin. 2 sows have been coughed for long time, so they
would be culled.
Currently, 34 of total Mong Cai gilts that were moved to Qung Tri in May 2008 have been
mated the first litter and they have gotten pregnancy. Of which, four pigs gave the first litter
with NBA is 8 piglets/litter and some other Mong Cai gilts have prepared to give birth.
Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) occurred in the last 6 months in 2007 in Quang Tri province
have caused some difficulties following:

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+ Transferring pigs to Quang Tri was postponed, causing slow project progress
+ After ending FMD, the price of Mong Cai gilts increased while budget for purchases
have been approved from the beginning of the year. Therefore, the number of pigs bought
reduced from100 (under the original plan) to 68 and was divided into 2 purchasing batches
because there was not enough Mong Cai gilts at the same time.
+ The additional costs due to the raising waiting time for the vaccine effect before
distributing Mong Cai gilts to farmers
After the pigs were moved into and for households more than 1 month, porcine
reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) has been occurred all over the Hai Lang
district, of which Phu Hai and Hai Thuong communes (the project implementation pilots)
were the most serious damage communes (Please see attched pictures). The fact is that some
selected households had many pigs died or all pigs died due to PRRS, exception of Mong Cai
gilts that supported by the project. This can be explained that Mong Cai gilts were vaccinated
all diseases.

2.4. Consulting and supporting for the caring and nursing of Mong Cai pigs
NIAH researchers changed over to households to check the care and feeding management of
sows and advised to farmers about the caring and nursing, sheds, environmental improving,
etc. Moreover, they also consulted to farmers to formulate feeding ration in order to meet
nutritional requirements based on available local feed resources such as rice, maize, rice
bran, cassava meal, fish meal, sweet potato vines…
Selected households have signed a commitment to implement the caring and nursing of
Mong Cai sows in accordance with techniques that they have been training as well as
advisory opinions of the NIAH scientists. At the same time, farmers had to record and update
data daily on the notebook supplied by the NIAH researchers in order to manage and analyse
the data. The prior results show that the average weight gain of Mong Cai gilts was 10
kg/head/month and the first mating age that Mong Cai gilts got pregnant was 7 – 8 months
with 55 -60 kg average body weight/head.

2.5. Checking and monitoring the project implementation
Ms. Tarni went to Vietnam and worked for the purpose of completing websites to data (see
detailed reports of Tarni)
In June 2008, Australian expert on animal health and specialist on pig house design (Dr.
Tonny and Dr. Cholin), who worked as the foreign technical experts and officials operating
the project, and Vietnamese specialists organised the training course on pig shed in
accordance with farmer group. Each farmer group included 6 farmers concentrated in the
farmer household that was chosen to conduct the evaluation of current status of pig sheds,
hygiene and environment. Based on that the specialists touch farmers how to improve the
premises, breeding, feeding and disease prevention (see detailed reports of Tony and Cholin).
The training courses were very necessary and useful for farmers. Through the training
courses, along with foreign experts, farmers shared their experiences and learned a lot of

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knowledge about new technological advance in livestock production. At the same time they
received the dedicated guidance of experts how to raise pigs with better performance through

pig shed improving regarding to the ventilation in summer, the warm in winter and ensuring
good environmental sanitation and effectively disease prevention and treatment.

3. Activities in the last 6 months of the year 2008 and early 2009
To improve the content of the proposed plan implementation of the project in 2008, some
activities have been implemented in the last 6 months in 2008 and early 2009 as follows:

3.1. Consulting and supporting for Mong Cai breeding
18 Mong Cai pigs including the 14 MC gilts and 4 MC boars were transferred to Quang Tri
province in October 2008. With the aim of making fresh blood of Mong Cai pigs in Quang
Tri, 18 MC pigs were selected from Trang Due Mong Cai breeding farm in Hai Phong
province located in the Northeast of Vietnam. Quang Tri has just experienced PRRS, so the
vetarinary requirements were very strict. The time for waiting the vaccine effect in Hai
Phong and raising in Quang Tri before distributing to households was 30 days. The
additional costs for the second raising in Quang Tri before distributing to households were
AU $ 1538.5. The total extra costs incurred of 2 purchasing batches were AU $ 7648 (details
see files attached: Costs of maintain selected MC pig)
Two of four Mong Cai boars added have started producing the semen. The four MC boars
were assigned to the Long Hung farm of semen production by Mr. Van Anh-owner. A
contract of the caring and nursing of Mong Cai boars was signed between project officials
and farm owners with commitments as follow:
+ To care and nurse MC boars according to techniques they were trained as well as
comments by the NIAH science consultants.
+ To record and update information on daily caring and nursing and exploiting the semen
in a notebook supplied by NIAH officials to manage and analyse the data.
+ The Long Hung farm of semen production provides free Mong Cai semen to all sows
of households participating in the project (173 sows), with 2 doses per one mating time - with
dual mating.
Because physiological development of the Mong Cai sows in the first litter is not yet perfect,
so all 64 Mong Cai gilts provided by the project would be inseminated artificially by semen

of exotic pigs (Landrace or Yorkshire) in the first pregnant to produce fattening pigs. From
the second litter, all 64 Mong Cai sows will be inseminated artificially by Mong Cai semen
to multiplicate Mong Cai breed.
Foot and Mouth disease and PRRS were occurred all over Hai Lang district including Phu
Hai and Hai Thuong communes where the projects have been implemented in 2007 and
2008. That is the reason why the project progress was slow. Moreover, number of Mong Cai
pigs was reduced in comparison with the original plan due to the price of Mong Cai gilts
increased after ending diseases, while the fund for pig purchases was approved from the

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beginning of the year. The PRRS caused the heaviest damage at the households in An Khe
village, Hai Thuong commune, with only remaining Mong Cai gilts of the project.
Total numbers of Mong Cai pigs that have been monitoring by the project are now 177
(including pig’s head of the projects and pig's head of households), in which:

No Pig type Quantity (head) Note
1 Lactating sows 16
2 Pregnant sows 90
3 Farrowing sows 19
4 Gilts 48
5 Mong Cai boars 4

3.2. Participating in the Animal Science Congress of the Asian – Australian Association of
Animal Production Societies (The 13th AAAP).
The 13th AAAP was organized at Hanoi from 22
nd
to 27
th
September, 2008. With fund
supporting by AUSAID, 11 Vietnamese researchers participating to CARD project took part

in the 13th AAAP. The list of participants is as follow:
- Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry (HUAF)
1. Nguyen Quang Linh
2. Ho Ngoc Phuong
3. Ngo Huu Toan
4. Ha Thi Hue
- National Institute of Animal Husbandry (NIAH)
5. Ta Thi Bich Duyen
6. Nguyen Que Coi
7. Dang Hoang Bien
8. Nguyen Nguyet Cam
- National Institute of Veterinary (NIVR)
9. Cu Huu Phu
10. Au Xuan Tuan
11. Nguyen Xuan Huyen
This is a conference with the subject "Livestock production and the role of small livestock
farms in the global economy". The 13th AAAP was successful with more than 800
participants who are scientists, the farm owner and students from nearly 40 countries around
the world. The scientist group of the CARD-004/05VIE project also presented some reports
as well as scientific poster on the research results achieved by the project. Unfortunately, Dr.
Cholin did not attend the conference, although his report was printed in the proceeding of the
conference and arranged in the concurrent session of pig nutrition, feeding and management".

3.3. Establishment of farmer interested club of Mong Cai pig production

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In recent years, pig production in general has faced many difficulties such as decreasing
pig population, epidemic diseases occurred continuously (PRRS, foot-and-mouth diseases
). Therefore the farmers experienced difficulty to confront the market. Livestock products
are created with small amount and pressed output prices by business man when there are

more products. In addition, the hygiene and safety of food can not be controlled.
With the goal of contributing to support farmers to transfer the economic structure in
agriculture and creating the Mong Cai breeding region in Hai Lang district - Quang Tri
province to meet the supply of Mong Cai breed with high quality for the farms in Hai Lang
area as well as other regions, we have proposed to establish the farmer interested club of
Mong Cai pig production.
3 farmer interested clubs of Mong Cai pig production was established in October 2008 at An
Khe, Thuong Xa and Phu Hung villages in accordance with the Decision of the Chairman of
the People's Committee of Hai Thuong and Phu Hai communes. Members of each group
consist of households participating in the CARD-004/05VIE project in those villages. When
the farmer interested clubs work effectively, they can admit other members. The leaders
representing the Party Committee, People's Committees, Women's Association, the Farmer’s
Association of Hai Thuong and Phu Hai communes and the NIAH researchers (Dr. Duyen,
Ms. Hoang and Mr. Sang) involved and controlled the ceremony of the establishment of
farmer interested clubs. During the ceremony of the establishment of farmer interested club,
members voted for 3 group leaders:
1. Mr. Le Dinh Danh, group leader of the Phu Hung farmer interested club of Mong Cai
pig production in Phu Hai commune.
2. Mr. Dao Van, group leader of the Dai An farmer interested club of Mong Cai pig
production, in Hai Thuong commune.
3. Mr. Phan Dinh Trang, group leader of the Thuong Xa farmer interested club of Mong
Cai pig production in Hai Thuong commune.
The leaders of these clubs are responsible for the connection between the club members and
project staffs to share experiences and learn new technological advances in pig production as
well as help each other to develop sustainable pig production.
To create initially operational expenditure for the farmer interested clubs, CARD-004/05VIE
project supported around AU$ 6500 for the activities:
+ Risk fund for 173 sows;
+ 3 bookshelves for 3 clubs (including books on pig raising techniques, daily agricultural
newspapers and information technology with a volume/2 weeks). These bookshelves have

been placed in the leader’s home;
+ Fund for supporting member’s activities.

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After the farmer interested clubs were established, the spirit of farmers participating in the
project was excited. As recently experienced 2 stages of heavily epidemic disease damages,
with the support of money as well as their knowledge of new breeds, feeding, hygiene and
disease prevention, the farmer interested club’s activities encouraged farmers to have more
confidence in the pig production development.
3.4. Consulting and supporting for waste treatment, hygiene and disease prevention.
Developing sustainable livestock production without affecting the health of human beings
and animals is one of those issues that are concerned and implemented. The NIAH officers
have been deploying to guide farmers in the waste treatment with the most effective methods
and in the best measures for disease prevention. The methods of waste treatment and disease
prevention have to be suitable for small and medium pig farms in Hai Lang district, Quang
Tri province in order to minimize disease, environmental pollution environment, with the
detailed contents as follows:
- To consult farmers the negative impacts, effects of environmental pollution around the
pig shed on the health of human beings and animals and the benefits of the implementation of
the waste treatments to reduce environmental pollution.
- To instruct farmers how to make composting container to kill the germs in the manure
and increase the effective use of manure and how to improve waste drainage to limit
environmental pollution. The project will support the farms with large scale to construct
biogas systems that will be deployed in early 2009 after ending the rainy season.
- To guide the farmers how to prevent and treat normal pig diseases, especially destroy
scabies in pigs.
- To monitor, treat and record the pig epidemic diseases occurred as well as implement
waste treatment to reduce environmental pollution.

3.5. Consulting and supporting for caring and nursing Mong Cai sows and piglets.

- Artificial insemination for all Mong Cai sows of the project;
- Monitoring and evaluating the use of hugging compartments
- Guiding farmers to record and update data on the notebook provided by NIAH officers.
- Selecting and building demonstrated model for other household study.
- Monthly, if farmers do perform well the application of technological advances and
record and update data fully, they will be supported labor cost.

3.6. Checking and controlling the project implementation.
- To organize the meetings of the farmer interested clubs of Mong Cai pig production with
rich contents, exchanging information on pig production and consumption of products.
- To end the supporting to upgrade and build new pig sheds.
- To continue checking and evaluating the project implementation.

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4. Advantages and difficulties during the project implementation
4.1. Advantages
- The NIAH officers participating in the project have experiences in implementing projects,
transferring the technological advances to farmers and using farmer participatory training
approach.
- Quang Tri province has consumption market of pigs to Laos, so the development of Mong
Cai sows producing pig breeds is the necessary need of farmers.
Despite the farmers in Quang Tri province are poor, they prefer to learn new knowledge
about animal husbandry and have aspirations to develop pig raising effectively. Project fund
is a very big help for farmers implementing their aspirations.

4.2. Difficulties.
- Not all the households participating in the project are of the same academic level and pig
raising experience.
- Although the project has fund to support for pig shed improving and upgrading, it is very

difficult to convince them to build a new pig shed following the pig shed design of the
project because most households lack of capital.
- Foot and mouth disease and PRRS continuously occurred in the last 6 months in 2007 and
the first 6 months of the year 2008 in Quang Tri province did not only damage the economy
of the farmer households but also slow the pace of the project implementation. Number of
pigs also reduced after ending epidemic diseases, so it should require more time to recover
the pig herd

5. Recommendations
Foot and mouth disease and PRRS continuously occurred in the last 6 months in 2007 and
the first 6 months of the year 2008 in Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue do arise some costs as a
result of the vaccine for 2 above diseases and Mong Cai gilt raising time in Quang Tri before
distributing to farmers and do slow the pace of the project implementation. Therefore, we
have some recommendations:
- To approve and support additional expense due to Mong Cai gilt raising time in Quang Tri
before distributing to farmers with the total amount of AU$ 7648 as soon as possible.
- Australian and Vietnamese project management board should consider the project to extend
more than one year compared to the initial plan (2010).
The above are the work contents conducted by officers participating to CARD-004/05VIE
project. We hope to get comments from the experts as well as officials assessed so that we
can complete the project well.
Reporter
Ta Thi Bich Duyen



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TRAINING DOCUMENT ON MONG CAI PIG PRODUCTION
FOR SMALL HOLDERS





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QUANG TRI, 2007




Part I. TECHNOLOGY OF MONG CAI PIG PRODUCTION
Lecturer: Dr. Ta Thi Bich Duyen
Secsion 1: Characteristics, breeding and selection methods of Mong Cai pig
Secsion 2: Feeds, Technologies on processing and storage of feed.
Secsion 3: Technology for rearing Mong Cai gilt
Secsion 4: Technology for rearing Mong Cai boars
Secsion 5: Determining heated sows and mating
Secsion 6: Technology for rearing progenant sows
Secsion 7: Technology for rearing farrowed sows and piglets.

Secsion 8: Technology for rearing farrowed sows and suckling.
Secsion 9: Technology for rearing piglets pre and post weaning.
Secsion 10: Technology for rearing farrowed sows and piglets.
Secsion 11: Technology for rearing fattened pigs.
Secsion 12: Methods on recording and caculating economical efficiency in Mong Cai pig
production.
Part II. PIG HOUSE DESIGNS
Lecturer. Mr. Bien
Part II. Vet. IN MONG CAI PIG PRODUCTION
Lecturer. Dr. Tuyen
- Preventive hygiene
- Technology for injecting some pig diseases.
- Attention to use vaccine
- Technology for determining diseased pigs
- Some regular diseases and Vet. Technologies in pig production.
- Technology for helping and look after the sows when they get problems at
farrowing.


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Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development

Project Progress Report


SIX-MONTHLY REPORT (January to June 2008)
1. INSTITUTE INFORMATION
Project Name
Blueprint Pig Production Development in Small

Households In Central Region, Vietnam
(Sub-component implemented in Thừa Thiên Huế and
Quang Nam provinces)

Vietnamese Institution
Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry
Vietnamese Project Team Leader
Dr. Nguyen Quang Linh
Australian Organisation
Dr. Darren Trott
Australian Personnel
Dr. Colin Cargill, Dr. Tony Pahy
Date commenced

Completion date (original)

Completion date (revised)

Reporting period
Jan. to June 2008
Contact Officer(s)
In Australia: Team Leader
Name:
Dr. Darren Trott
Telephone:

Position:

Fax:

Organisation

Email:


In Australia: Administrative contact
Name:
Dr. Colin Cargill
Telephone:

Position:

Fax:

Organisation

Email:


In Vietnam
Name:
Dr. Nguyen Quang Linh
Telephone:
84.54.53464

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Position:
Dean
Fax:
84.54.524923

Organisation
Hue University of Agriculture and
Forestry
Email:


1. INTRODUCTION

Project named Blueprint Pig Production Development in small households in the Central
Region is one of projects that belong to the Collaborative Program between MARD, Vietnam
and Australian Government (CARD). Project fund is to do research related to pig production
in Central Region, Vietnam in the duration of 2006 – 2009. Project consists of 3 sub-
components; each sub-component is implemented by one local partner. They are:-
- Sub-component implemented in Binh Dinh province by National Institute of Veterinary
Research.
- Sub-component implemented in Quang Tri province by National Institute of Animal
Husbandry; and
- Sub-component implemented in Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam provinces by Hue
University of Agriculture and Forestry (HUAF).

According to sub-component in Thua Thien Hue, in the scond year of 2007, the
HUAF research team that consists of 6 members and finished works on survey analysis and
making more activities in health care, reproductive arrangement for Mong Cai breed and
exotic breed. There are 27 pig farm households that are still active for project targets

2. IMPLEMENTATION RESULTS OF INITIATED ACTION PLAN OF FISRT SIX
MONTHS, 2008

2.1. Training course and results
The training course on farms was conducted by Vietnamese and Australian teams, aiming in

providing of knowledges and skills as:
- Herd monitoring and management.
- Effect of creep-box on piglets health
- Housing and environment condition
- Pig nutrition and feeding
- Pig diseases: control and prevention.
Duration: 2 days in Quang Tri and 2 days in Hue
Venue: CARD project’s farms
Lecturers: - HUAF research team members (Dr. Duyet, Mr Phuong)
- Australian research team members (Dr Colin, Dr Tony)
- NIVR research team members (Mr Tuan, Mr Huyen)
- NIAH research team members (Mr Bien, Mrs Cam)
Materials for training: Please see attached files.
Teaching methodology: centred student process, focused on brain storming and group
discussion.
Different from other previous trainings, this training each commune would be chosen one
farm (a best farm in the commune). Then other farmers would come to see and study directly
on the farm. Firstly, the lecturers from CARD would teach to the farmers and local vets the
theory section followed the list of contents above. During the time at the farm, they always
asked the farmers the questions related to training contents. Based on the current situations of
the farm, the members from CARD would show the farmers: where was good and still not
good, some problems of the farm. Finaly was the time for dicussion: the farmers gave

3
questions to the lecturers. The questions are the problems that they have been met during pigs
production progress. After finishing the training programe the farmers were receivied the
certifiate that they have attended the training by CARD project.

Results of the training course: After finishing the training course, the farmers would get more
understanding on sow production (included piglet production). There were 24 training

certificates that conducted to farmers and local veterinariants in Quang Tri and Thua Thien
Hue. Particularly, local Vets can understand the role of E.coli vaccines for sows in pregnant
periods, it will be earlier injection for sow during pregnancy periods of 70 – 80 days. Feeding
schedules and regimes for sows and piglets also conducted on farms for farmers as
demonstration pig farms can implement the activities on farms.

The training in Quang Tho commune The farmers were receiving the certificate

2.2. Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) outbreak and
interventions in locations

On 14/5/2008 The PRRS was outbroken in Thua Thien Hue province. Huong Chu, Quang
Tho were two communes had happened PRRS. Total number of pigs were destroyed by
PRRS were: 19 sows. To recover pigs production, the goverment decided to support 25.000
VND/kg. To destroy the pigs who had PRRS, firstly the farmers whose pigs had PRRS had to
announce to the local Vets. Then the Vets would come to confirmed again and listed of those
pigs. After that the people who were responsible for destroying PRRS pigs would come to
do. They disinfested first then used the electric to kill the pigs, then brought them on to the
car to the place where far from the village and destroyed. These are some pictures of progress
of destryoing PRRS pigs at Huong Chu commune:

The disinfestion was use during Tranfering pigs on to car for moving to
the PRRS period destroy

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The place for destroying PRRS pigs

In early year 2008, stated that 45/125 sows were pregnant status and expect for more litters

and piglets born alive, so farmer should very happy to earn from sow production.
Unfortunately, April and May, there were 15 sows in Huong Chu commune (died due to
PRRS), and 4 were died in Quang Tho commune (died due to PRRS ), 8 were from Thuy
Phuong (3 MC sows and 5 exotic sows, died due PRRS), 4 were from Thuy Duong, 1 was
from Binh Dien. The current total is 75 sows in the project.


2.3. Effect of creep-box on piglets health
After farrowing, the sows and the piglets require different conditions: the sows require a
temperature range from 18-25
0
C, while the piglets require a range from 30-32
0
C.
To address this problem, the project decided to design wooden creep boxes for piglets during
their crucial first week post partum, each with an electric light, which keep the temperature
within 30-32
0
C. One box was allocated per household (total 24 boxes). Additional boxes
could be made by the farmers, following the same design, at their own expense.
The wooden boxes have been found to work well in the field; Results on several farms
showed that when the pen temperature was found to be 23-26
0
C, the corresponding creep box
temperature was maintained at 29-31
0
C. This method may prove to be very useful in
prevention of diseases related to thermoregulation (especially during the coldest season). For
the results please see at attached article. The results show that using creep-box can help the
piglets have good growth perfomance and decrease diarrhoea infection ratio. Compare with

in the past time, the farmers used the electric light only without creep-box or any equipments
to keep the temperature. Because that the temperature was lost out easily and might be make
the sows felt hotter than they wanted. This was the reason explained why even they used
higher power electrics light but their piglets still had diarrhoea, especial white diarrhoea.
Using creep-box can solve that problem, the temperature can be kept inside the creep-box
and provide the good environment for piglets. Given can help the piglets have higher growth
perfomance than past time.


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The piglets with the creep-box The piglets without creep-box
and electric light

2.4. Heating control and mating service
Our records show that 80% of the MC sows had farrowed 2
nd
litter and 20 % having 3
rd

pregnant during the current reporting period. The sows were all given AI (by veterinarian or
farmer). Of those sows that fell pregnant, the farrowing to heat interval was 5-8 days.

The ten exotic sows in Thuy Phuong:
+ Five sows belonged to Ms Vo Thi Ha were taken out. Among them, 3 were still gilts and
had no result after mating many times; 2 sows had farrowed 1
st
litter (total number of piglets
were 18) but during the lactating time the sows had some problems so that the farmer decided
to sell. About 18 piglets of the 2 sows: 12 were died and 6 piglets left still is being raised in

good condition.
+ Five exotic sows belong to Mr Nguyen Huu Kiem: 1 sow had farrowed 1
st
litter with 11
piglets, 2 sows having pregnant; 3 more still have had no result yet.


2.5. Reproductive performance
In this reporting period 72/75 sows have farrowed 2
nd
litter until now (no including the sows
were removed out). Still have 3 sows in Huong Chu have no result after matting many time
yet, the farmers have been trying to give AI some more times.
The total number of piglets is 986 and their birth weight ranges from 0.4-0.6 kg.
Each piglet was injected with Fe-Dextran (2 ml/head) at 3 days and 10 days post partum.
The price of weaner pig at the current time is range 70,000 – 80,000 VND/kg.
See details of each commune at the table below:

Commune
Number
sows
farrowed
Total number
piglets
Notes
Quang Tho 20 273
Include the piglets of the 4 sows were died
due to PRRS before 2
nd
litter.

Thuy Duong 15 185
Include the piglets of the 4 sows were
romoved out after finishing the 1
st
litter.
Binh Dien 11 113
Include the piglets of the 1 sows were
removed out after finishing the 1
st
litter.

6
Thuy Phuong 15 161
10 piglets were died at Ms Ha's farm

Huong Chu 14 254
Include the piglets of the 15 sows were died
by PRRS.

2.6. E.coli vaccination programed for sows

Farm vaccination schedule


E.coli
Hog
cholera Erysipelas Pasteurella Salmonella

Gilts
on arrival

x x x x x

repeat three weeks
later


x


Sows and gilts




Week 13 of gestation
x x x x
at weaning

x



Boars




on arrival

x

x


repeat three weeks
later


x

every 6 months

x
x


Progeny




4 days of age

Weaning
x
9 weeks of age
x x x
12 weeks of age
x x

A very common disease affecting piglets in this area is ‘White Diarrhoea’ (WD), which has

many causative agents, including E. Coli and various environmental factors. WD is most
prevalent in piglets in the age group of 2-3 hours to 21 days post partum, but also occurs in
piglets up to 28 days old. The disease causes a large economic loss for the farmer, due to a
reduced daily weight gain and weaning rate.
In order to prevent WD we need to:
1. Carry out an E.coli vaccination programme: In gilts, first injection given 1month
before farrowing and another is given 1week later. In sows, a single injection is given
3 weeks before farrowing.
2. Keep the environment dry and clean,
3. Keep the piglet’s environmental (creep box) temperature in the range of 30-32
0
C
4. Inject piglets with Fe-Dextran at 3 days and 10 days post partum.

Every week team members go to the commune they are responsible for, to monitor all
activities relating to sow care and management. Advice is given to the farmers regarding
possible feeding, housing and hygiene improvements. The team member checks farmer

7
records for the time of AI (pregnancy) to determine at what day the E.coli vaccine (received
from NIVR) is to be injected and gives this vaccine at the appropriate time. Observations
have showed that the E.coli vaccine does not provide 100% cover against E.coli and some
offspring of mothers given the vaccine contracted WD. (please the results at attached file).

2.7. Evaluation the achievements after three years paticipating CARD project
In oder to evaluate the achievements of the project’s activities after 3 years we (the members
of HUAF group) carried out the full survey on the farmers. The survey to determine what the
farmers have got after 3 years paticipating the project:
- Housing improving: By the finance and techniques supporting, the pigs housing system of
the paticipants have been more improving. The housing have higher-roof than the traditional

system, the blinds were taken out in hot days.
- Heat control: The high temperature in summer was the problem that the farmers were
facing. In summer, the temperature may be 38 – 40
0
C. Normally, to cool the pigs the farmers
used shower only, but from the time joining the project they were paticipated many training
programes on pigs production. We encouraged them to use roof-cool, opening blind, electric
fan combine with mister to cool for their pigs. For the roof-cool show that is very effective.
When the outside temperature is 37
0
C: with the housings without any cool equipments the
roof temperature is 54-60
0
C and the housing temperature is over than 40
0
C while the
temperature of roof and inside the roof-cool housing are: 32 and 31
0
C. Please the below
picture:


Roof-cool in summer

- The farmers’s knowledge have improved: after paticipating CARD project the farmers were
joined many training programes on pigs production. These training concentrated to train
them on sow and piglet production. After joining the training, the farmers have known how
to raise a good sow, good piglet. For instance, how to control the sow’s fat while pregnancy
time, lactating time, how to give score to the sows, how to keep warm for piglets Before
joining the project, they did not have any idea about sow score and they did not know which

level of weight was good for sows. That was the reason why their sows were always thin,
then after lactating time they were very diffilcult to come in heat again, lead to low
performance.
- Ecoli vaccination: The piglets diarrhoea is one of the most improtant problems that the
farmers have been facing. This is the reason cause lower piglets growth. To solve this
problem CARD project decided to use E.Coli vaccine for sows at the last of pregnancy
period to tranfer the immology for the piglets to prevent diarrhoea by E.coli. After using the
E.coli vaccine, the farmers have seen that is very effective. The ratio of diarrhoea clearly

8
reduce then help the piglets have high growth. The E.coli vaccine are injected first time at 84
days of pregnancy period and the second times at one week later by CARD members.
- Reproductive performance: The results of survey show that the farmers have had got more
money than before paticipating CARD project. For three years ago, the average number of
sows in farm is about 3 - 4, but from the date paticipating CARD project they are supported
by money, techniques, paticipated training. The number of weaners were produced per year
range from 130-150 weaners. It is higher 1,5 time than before. Especially, the pig price have
been increasing in recent time: >50.000 VND/kg compare with 22.000 VND/kg at two years
ago. This is a good condition for the farmers who want to develope their pig prodcution.