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Improving smallholder food security through investigations of carcass composition and beef marketing of buffalo and cattle in northern Lao PDR

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Abstract

This study determined the carcass composition of Lao indigenous buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and cattle (Bos indicus), then examined trends in bovine meat marketing following review of records of beef production and prices in the two major cities of Luang Prabang (LPB) and Xieng Khoung (XK) provinces in northern Laos. Samples from 41 buffalo and 81 cattle (n = 122) were collected from animals slaughtered in May–June 2014, with live weights, carcass weights and other carcass-related variables collected. The animals were classified into four age cohort groups (<2, 2–<4, 4–6 and >6 years) with quantitative and dichotomous qualitative traits determined. There were significant differences in buffalo and cattle predicted mean carcass weights between age classification categories (p = 0.003 and 0.001) but not in dressing percentages (p = 0.1 and 0.1). The carcass weight of buffalo was 104 (±23.1)−176 (±12.0) kg compared to 65 (±8.7)–84 (±6.5) kg of cattle, with dressing percentages of 37–40 and 39–42 %, respectively. Despite an average bovine meat price increase of 42–48 % between 2011 and 2013, there was a reduction in the numbers of large ruminants slaughtered in the surveyed cities of LPB (11 %) and XK (7 %), with bovine meat availability per person of 5.2–6.6 kg (LPB) and 3.0–3.8 kg (XK). Improving the sustainability of the bovine meat supply in Laos requires a systems approach involving improvements to animal health and production, livestock marketing, plus the critical development of improved slaughterhouse facilities enabling a meat-processing sector to emerge. This development pathway is of particular importance for building the capacity of Laos to reduce food insecurity and alleviate the poverty of its largely rural smallholder community.

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Acknowledgments

The senior author is a recipient of an ACIAR (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research) John Allwright Fellowship, and the study received financial support from ACIAR AH 2006/159. The collaboration of staff from LPB and Paek district for fieldwork and sharing the bovine meat records is acknowledged. Assistance with field data collection from Ms. Bounxay Bounyavong and Mr. Aekkaphoth Chanda (National University of Laos) plus Ms. Valeria Leung and Ms Erin Grace (University of Sydney) is greatly appreciated. This study would not be possible without the support and contributions from slaughterhouse owners, workers and traders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Camden, NSW, 2570, Australia

    Sonevilay Nampanya, Russell David Bush & Peter Andrew Windsor

  2. Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Regional Office, Luang Prabang, Laos

    Syseng Khounsy

  3. Livestock Research Centre, National Agriculture and Forestry Institute, Vientiane, Laos

    Aloun Phonvisay

Authors
  1. Sonevilay Nampanya
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  2. Syseng Khounsy
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  3. Aloun Phonvisay
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  4. Russell David Bush
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  5. Peter Andrew Windsor
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Correspondence to Sonevilay Nampanya.

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Nampanya, S., Khounsy, S., Phonvisay, A. et al. Improving smallholder food security through investigations of carcass composition and beef marketing of buffalo and cattle in northern Lao PDR. Trop Anim Health Prod 47, 681–689 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-015-0778-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-015-0778-7

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