Monitoring and evaluating the practice of biosecurity measures at wildlife farms (TIP 2, 3) in Vinh Cuu, Dinh Quan and Tan Phu districts

Technical Officers and members of OHDWG had visited and discussed with 16 households raising bamboo rats, porcupines, civets and sambar deers to monitor and support biosafety measures trial, taking notes of monitoring animals’ health and human’ health on the logbook; monitor waste treatment practices at pilot households, taking over the first batches of compost and discussed with farmers the best practices of healthcare record keeping and detected case informing from wildlife farms at the key communes located in 3 project districts.

During the discussions, the households were aware of the importance and initially applied biosafety measures in wildlife farming such as using PPE, veterinary hygiene and disinfection before entering the barn; and were responsible for notifying the suspected cases to local authorities. In the households practicing manure treatment using Balasa N01 biological product, the first batches of compost met the requirements for moisture, temperature and decay of the compost. There were households using fertilizer for plants that made practical benefits to farmers, through which farmers are motivated to continue practicing, expanding their scale and sharing with peer-groups to deal with manure. Two wildlife households that suffered great losses from two outbreaks on civets in March and April have restored production, are more confident in caring, nurturing and preventing diseases for civets, initially regaining their confidence to the local veterinary In particular, both households were deeply aware of the responsibility and the need to promptly report the disease to the authorities as well as the importance of thoroughly practicing biosafety in human management on farm.

The pilot implementation of a number of biosecurity measures, animal health monitoring and waste treatment at wildlife farms are supported and highly appreciated by the farmers and stakeholders. The households expressed their thought that the project will be a long-term companion with wildlife farmers to continue supporting people in disease prevention and treatment intervention for animals and humans, contributing to minimizing the spread of diseases in Dong Nai province.

Illustration photos:

Discussed with bamboo rat farmers

Discussed with civet farmers

Civet composting with biological product models

Bamboo rat composting with biological product models

Photo credit: OH-DReaM WG