(VNF) - A seminar on breeding cattle for profit was organzied in Hanoi by the Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) with support from the Australian Government, Meat and Livestock Australia and LiveCorp.

Nearly 150 participants including entrepreneurs, agriculture managers, researchers, government officials and practitioners have attended the event.

The seminar highlighted practical alternatives with experiences in breeding that are applied effectively in other parts of South East Asia.

According to Vice Minister of MARD, Mr Vu Van Tam, beef currently accounts for 12% of meat consumption in Vietnam. This is changing rapidly and the demand for high quality beef, particularly from Australia, has increased over the past three years.

He advised that Vietnam wished to collaborate with Australia in monitoring the production, slaughter and welfare of live cattle which have been exported to Vietnam. He called for domestic investments not only in importing quality live cattle but also in breeding technologies to ensure profit generation for practitioners.

Deputy Head of Mission of the Australian Embassy, Mr Layton Pike, advised that Australia is more than an exporter of live cattle to Vietnam. He noted that Australia is also assisting the development of Vietnam beef’s sector through seminars, practical training and collaborative research and development.

Vietnam is the second largest import market of for live cattle exports from Australia. According to Australia’s Department of Agriculture, last year, some 366,716 cattle were exported to Vietnam. Through this trade, animal welfare outcomes and processing capability in Vietnamese abattoirs has improved, supported by training from Australian experts.

Australia provides support on agricultural research through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). Since 1993, ACIAR has funded 20 projects worth approximately AUD16 million to develop and improve Vietnam’s livestock production systems, focusing on animal health, food safety, feed and feeding, breeding and market access./.

( VNF )