Nguyen Manh Dai’s pig farm in My Duc district, Hanoi, has been restored after years of struggle with African swine fever (ASF).
The farm owner shared that since 2019, his farm suffered repeated outbreaks, leading to significant losses and empty barns. At one point, Dai considered giving up pig farming entirely and seeking other work.
In early 2024, when the AVAC vaccine became available, he decided to give it a try, and his herd has been free from any infections ever since.
In Me Linh district, the farm of Hoang Van Chuyen raises approximately 400 pigs, including both breeding sows and market pigs. Mr. Chuyen vaccinated his entire herd with the AVAC vaccine, even though it hadn’t been officially tested on breeding pigs before.
Farmers are particularly pleased that the vaccine also protects breeding pigs, because outbreaks among breeding sows posed a significant threat.
Vietnam is the first country to successfully produce and export a vaccine against ASF, marking a milestone after the disease first appeared over a century ago. This achievement not only benefits the domestic pig farming industry, but also draws international attention.
Between 2019 and 2020, ASF caused a shortage of 7.9 million tons of pork in Vietnam, pushing the Consumer Price Index to 6.73% in April 2020. The availability of an ASF vaccine is crucial for protecting millions of farming households, sustaining an industry valued at 3.3 billion USD annually, and controlling inflation./.
