Mod Cow Disease and Cattle Imports in Vietnam
Mod Cow Disease and Cattle Imports in Vietnam
As Australian cattle prices reach record highs, Vietnam has decided to turn elsewhere for its live cattle imports. Historically, Australia has been one of Vietnam’s largest cattle importers, but the country is now turning to Brazilian cattle in order to combat the high prices. Thi Vai, Vietnam, received 14,000 bulls from a shipment that took thirty days to travel by sea from Brazil. These cattle are intended to provide food security for the Vietnamese army. This arrival comes amidst international fear as Brazil’s cattle are suffering from an outbreak of ‘atypical’ Bovine Spongy Encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease. The cattle were received in Vietnam through a one-port discharge system in which the cattle will likely be relocated after a period of quarantine. Although the cattle enroute had a very low (0.2%) mortality rate, mad cow disease is known to always be progressive and fatal once clinical signs develop in both cattle; the human equivalent of mad cow disease (cJVD) that is transmitted through consumption of nervous tissue is also fatal.
The shift in cattle import from Australia to Brazil highlights the dynamic nature of ASEAN cattle trade. Brazilian cattle prices are cheaper than those in Australia and the supply is greater demonstrating the very competitive structure of the market. Another advantage to the use of Brazilian cattle as opposed to Australian cattle is that they will likely not be subject to the ESCAS system – an animal welfare system that Australia mandates. Although the short and long term impacts of this importation shift are unknown, extended market impacts are expected in the ASEAN region, with the greatest impacts likely in Vietnam and Indonesia (another import center for Australian cattle in which imported cattle from Australia are being replaced by those of Mexico). The rising prices in Australia can be directly attributed to COVID restrictions and conditions and Lumpy Skin Disease (a disease affecting cattle that decreases their productivity).
It will be interesting to see if these cattle that just arrived in Vietnam are in fact infected with mad cow disease, and if so, the Vietnamese response to this outbreak. Only time will tell if imports from Brazil are to be continued to Vietnam and elsewhere, if mad cow disease will have a grave impact in Southeast Asia, and if ASEAN trade dynamics will have changed forever as a result of COVID and rising Australian cattle prices.
Sources:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-24/brazil-live-export-bulls-arrive-in-vietnam/100488070
https://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/bovine_spongiform_encephalopathy.pdf
https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/tu6533#:~:text=People%20cannot….
Comments
I love the idea of a Mod cow, like a cow riding around in a checkerboard patterned Vespa, wearing black and white clothes.
On a more serious note, this is such an interesting story. One wonders at what level these decisions are being made. Given the way COVID and SARS before it is linked to human-animal connections, it’s rather surprising that any risk would be tolerated, even if the cost is lower.
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