Located in an area highly susceptible to climate fluctuations, Điện Biên province’s localities have recorded many prolonged heatwaves in recent years, with temperatures sometimes reaching over 40°C, while winter sees severe and damaging cold spells causing thermal shock to livestock. Heavy rain accompanied by flash floods and torrents destroys assets and sweeps away cattle and poultry, pushing residents into significant difficulties. Moreover, these extreme phenomena accelerate the spread of diseases, such as African Swine Fever, avian influenza, and Foot-and-Mouth Disease...

Phạm Đình Lai, Head of the Sub-Department of Agriculture under the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, stated that the prolonged fluctuations compel the livestock sector to find new directions. Instead of maintaining old practices, many localities are now shifting to a climate-adaptive model, reducing risks and increasing resilience. For the residents, this solution helps protect livelihoods, stabilize production, and enhance the ability to cope with weather changes.

Based on guidance, information dissemination, and mobilization from specialized agencies, residents have proactively adjusted their farming methods. Moving away from free-range grazing, many households invest in enclosed barns with cooling systems, ventilation fans, and misting during the hot season; they use biological bedding and heating systems during the cold season to reduce thermal shock for the livestock. In flood-prone areas, barns are built high, with concrete floors sloped for quick drainage. These improvements have created stable living conditions, helping livestock grow uniformly and limiting diseases, thereby enhancing productivity and product quality.

Lường Thị Thoan from Na Luông village, Mường Ảng commune, shared: My family currently raises nearly 20 buffaloes and cows. Thanks to technical guidance on proper care and barn construction, my family has been proactive in preventing cold, heat, and floods for the herd. The livestock are healthier, productivity increases, and income is stable, allowing the family to produce with peace of mind.

According to Thoan, previously, her family and many households in the village mainly raised livestock free-range, lacking protective measures against harsh weather. During hot spells, severe cold, or floods, livestock were often heavily affected, leading to reduced productivity and high disease risk. This situation constantly caused many difficulties and risks in maintaining family livelihoods. However, in recent years, by proactively applying techniques, renovating barns, and adhering to specialized agency guidelines, her family has improved rearing conditions, resulting in healthier livestock.

Climate change not only directly affects the health and physical condition of livestock but also reduces natural grass sources and limits irrigation water for fields growing corn, cassava, and elephant grass, which are essential raw materials used in livestock farming. To respond promptly, residents have shifted to feed preservation models using silage, drying, or developing raw material areas using water-saving methods.

Self-sufficiency in feed sources helps reduce dependence on the market, avoiding sudden price increases. Some models also utilize agricultural by-products such as straw, corn stalks, cassava pulp, and soybean residue... mixed according to standard formulas to both reduce costs and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, organic livestock farms are encouraged to use microbial yeast to improve digestion, boost resistance, and reduce antibiotic use. This aligns with the trend of green agriculture and limits environmental pollution.

Lù Văn Cường, Deputy Head of the Economic Division of Mường Ảng commune, shared: “Previously, people mainly grazed buffaloes and cows freely, relying on seasonal feed, so efficiency was not high. When the government provided guidance, many households converted some less efficient land to grow elephant grass as reserve feed for their herd. As a result, the buffalo and cow herds are better cared for, suffer less from disease, and gain weight quickly.”

With the goal of developing grass-fed livestock (buffalo, cow, goat) towards commodity production, where livestock products are produced along a value chain, have a stable consumer market, high competitiveness, efficiency, and sustainable development; gradually shifting from extensive to intensive farming, and making grass-fed livestock a key production sector of the province; in 2021, the provincial People’s Committee issued the Project on Sustainable Development of Grass-fed Livestock (Buffalo, Cow, Goat) along the Value Chain linked to Product Consumption Markets in the Province for the 2021 - 2025 Period, with an Orientation to 2030.

To date, after 4 years of implementation, large livestock farming is becoming a growth driver for the local agricultural economy. The entire province currently has over 300 mixed livestock farms raising buffalo, cow, pig, and goat; nearly 300 of these are small-scale farms, over 20 are medium-scale farms, and thousands are effective household-scale farming models.

Building on the achieved results, and within its assigned functions and tasks, the Department of Agriculture and Environment is closely coordinating with specialized agencies to conserve buffalo and cow genetic resources and select quality breeding stock. Simultaneously, it is intensifying guidance for farmers to participate in commodity-oriented livestock farming models, applying technical advances, focusing on vaccination, ensuring disease safety, and environmental sanitation. This is considered an important foundation for the sustainable development of the livestock sector, gradually asserting its key position in the province’s agricultural structure.