CHIANG RAI – The Ministry of Agriculture has launched a campaign to administer 7.8 million doses of vaccine against lumpy skin disease. This is part of efforts to stop the spread of the disease, lower losses for farmers, and build trust in Thai livestock products among trade partners.
Deputy Minister Itthi Sirilatthayakorn led the opening ceremony for the vaccination drive. He handed out vaccines to livestock volunteers and sent out teams to raise awareness about the importance of vaccinating cattle and buffalo. The event took place at Lan Thong Farm in Chiang Rai’s Mae Chan district.
He explained that the government is focused on improving Thailand’s livestock industry to boost production and open up export opportunities. For this reason, funds from the 2024 national budget were allocated for emergency use to help control lumpy skin disease in cattle and buffalo.
These resources allow the Department of Livestock Development to buy 7,850,000 doses of the vaccine. The goal is to prevent severe outbreaks, protect farmers, and keep livestock products ready for export.
Chiang Rai has been selected as a pilot area for regional disease-free zones and for holding pens aimed at supporting the export of live cattle and buffalo to China. This should help lower transport and logistics costs and open new trade routes.
For this initiative, Chiang Rai received 78,330 vaccine doses, enough to cover every cow and buffalo in the province. The Department of Livestock Development also plans a second round of kick-off events on February 28, 2025, in Tak province.
Animal diseases still pose real export challenges for Thailand, especially foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease. Taking strong steps to control these diseases and build immunity in Thailand’s cattle and buffalo will help increase trust in our livestock products among foreign buyers, the Deputy Minister said.
He added that the ministry is pushing to open export markets for live cattle and related products to China. Talks are underway with the Chinese Customs authority (GACC), and positive news is expected soon. Success with this export channel should help raise beef prices and increase farmers’ incomes, giving them better job security.
As for beef production in 2024, the country now has 9.9 million beef cattle, up from 9.65 million in 2023, a rise of about 2.58 percent. Total beef production stands at 1.18 million head, down 9.04 percent from last year.
On the export side, Thailand shipped 133,416 live cattle worth 3,242.56 million baht, up 53.1 percent from 87,144 in 2023. The main markets were Vietnam (43.64 percent), Malaysia (28.64 percent), Laos (27.34 percent), and others.
Farmers can request vaccination services at their local provincial or district livestock offices, or through other organizations working with the Department of Livestock Development in their area, such as local dairy cooperatives, milk collection centers, and local government agencies.
Lumpy Skin Disease
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a highly contagious illness in cattle, caused by the lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), part of the Capripoxvirus group. Thailand first faced this threat in March 2021, when the disease was detected in cattle in Roi Et province, marking the first outbreak in the country.
Within four months, LSD spread quickly to 64 of Thailand’s 77 provinces, affecting beef and dairy cattle along with buffaloes. Out of more than 600,000 animals impacted, the illness showed a morbidity rate of 34.57 percent, a mortality rate of 3.47 percent, and a case fatality rate of 10.05 percent.
Cattle stricken with LSD often develop fever, lose their appetite, and experience swelling of their lymph nodes. Distinctive skin lumps, ranging from half a centimetre to eight centimetres, also appear. The outbreak led to major financial losses, harmed milk output, increased calf deaths, and disrupted trade.
LSD spreads mainly by biting insects like stable flies and mosquitoes. Experts confirmed its presence through real-time PCR of the p32 gene, checking samples from skin lumps, blood, and milk.
Tests revealed the virus was a vaccine-related recombinant strain, closely matching types found earlier in China and Vietnam.
Maps and time-based studies showed clusters of cases, mostly in northeastern and central Thailand. Roi Et had the largest group, with 361 cases from 198 farms within a 17-kilometre area.
To contain the disease, Thailand launched a national vaccination programme using live vaccines such as Lumpyvax and MEVAC. Authorities also took action against insect carriers, since factors like land type and cattle numbers made some regions more at risk.
Even with these steps, LSD continued to spread fast. This showed the need for better monitoring, smarter use of resources, and further research into ways to protect livestock and support the cattle industry in Thailand.
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