In 2025, Vietnam's livestock industry will operate in a unique and challenging context. Complex global fluctuations, trade tensions, retaliatory tariffs from the United States, geopolitical conflicts in various regions, along with the increasingly evident impacts of climate change and extreme natural disasters, have created significant pressure on agricultural and livestock production.
Let's explore the key highlights of the livestock industry in 2025 with Greenfeed.
1. LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY MAINTAINS GROWTH
In 2025, Vietnam's livestock industry will operate in a unique and challenging context. Complex global fluctuations, trade tensions, retaliatory tariffs from the United States, geopolitical conflicts in many regions, along with the increasingly evident impacts of climate change and extreme natural disasters, have created significant pressure on agricultural and livestock production.
Domestically, the process of restructuring and streamlining the organizational apparatus, along with the need for innovation in management methods and production organization, poses new demands on the entire Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. However, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the growth in livestock value in 2025 is projected to reach 4.3-4.5%. The poultry population is expected to reach approximately 584.9 million birds, an increase of 3.0% compared to the same period in 2024; The pig herd numbered approximately 31.4 million head, an increase of 0.6% compared to the same period in 2024; the cattle herd numbered approximately 6.14 million head, a decrease of 1.2%; the dairy cattle herd numbered approximately 321,800 head, a decrease of 1.2%; and the buffalo herd numbered approximately 1.95 million head, a decrease of 3.9%. Egg production reached 21.4 billion eggs, an increase of 5.3% compared to the same period in 2024; meat production reached 8.66 million tons, an increase of 4.3% compared to the same period in 2024; and milk production reached 1.3 million tons, an increase of 5.8% compared to the same period in 2024. Total export turnover in the livestock sector reached over 2.1 billion USD, an increase of 17.4% compared to 2024.
2. NATURAL DISASTERS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT LIVESTOCK FARMING
2025 witnessed several periods of heavy rain, storms, and prolonged flooding in Northern, North Central, and Central Vietnam, especially from July to the end of the year, causing significant damage to agricultural production, with livestock farming being directly affected. Storms and floods submerged thousands of livestock shelters, damaged livestock infrastructure, and resulted in the death, destruction, or relocation of animals. In total, it is estimated that over 73,300 head of livestock and over 5 million poultry died or were destroyed due to storms and floods in 2025.
According to preliminary data from the Steering Committee for Post-Flood Production Restoration, initial losses in the livestock sector in some localities are estimated to range from tens to hundreds of thousands of livestock and poultry, with the heaviest losses concentrated in the Central Highlands and the deeply flooded areas of Central Vietnam. Typhoon Matmo and heavy rains at the end of 2025 caused severe flooding in many areas of Thai Nguyen, Lang Son, Son La, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, and Hanoi, resulting in hundreds of livestock and poultry going missing or suffering heavy losses, as well as causing landslides and damage to livestock shelters.
3. AFRICAN SWINE FEVER (ASF) CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR CHALLENGE
In 2025, ASF continued to recur on a large scale in many provinces and cities nationwide, putting significant pressure on domestic pork production and supply. According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, nearly 1,000 outbreaks were recorded in more than 700 communes and wards in 34 provinces and cities in 2025. The number of pigs that died or had to be culled exceeded 100,000, accounting for about 0.9% of the national pig herd. At the same time, hundreds of outbreaks are still under surveillance as per regulations, indicating that the risk of re-emergence remains high.
Although millions of doses of ASF vaccine have been distributed to livestock, coverage remains limited due to hesitation from many farmers over cost, practical effectiveness, and a weak grassroots veterinary system. This makes core measures such as biosecurity, surveillance, environmental management, and traceability even more crucial in disease prevention and control.
4. FORMING HIGH-TECH, CONCENTRATED LIVESTOCK FARMING ZONES
By 2025, developing concentrated, high-tech livestock farming zones will continue to be a strategic focus of Vietnam's livestock industry, aiming to overcome the situation of small-scale, scattered production, while creating a foundation for biosafety in livestock farming, reducing emissions, linking with value chains, and integrating into international markets. To date, hundreds of concentrated livestock farming zones and areas have been established and planned nationwide; the proportion of farm-based and industrial livestock production accounts for over 60% of the total live weight meat output.
Many localities are implementing livestock farming zone planning away from residential areas, synchronizing environmental infrastructure and disease control, in accordance with the Livestock Law and veterinary standards. The year 2025 also saw an increase in investment in large-scale, high-tech livestock farming in several localities such as Tay Ninh, Dak Lak, Binh Phuoc, and Dong Nai, with projects applying automation, digital management, traceability, and circular economy principles.
This is considered an inevitable direction, creating momentum for the livestock industry to shift towards in-depth development, improving quality, efficiency, and sustainability in the 2026-2030 period.
5. DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION BECOMES A PROMINENT TREND IN LIVESTOCK FARMING
The year 2025 marks a significant step forward in digital transformation in the livestock industry, linked to the need to improve management efficiency, disease control, and value chain transparency. According to the Department of Livestock and Veterinary Medicine, by the end of 2025, the majority of large-scale livestock enterprises and over 60% of concentrated farms will have applied digital solutions in herd management, environmental monitoring, traceability, and biosecurity control.
The national livestock and veterinary database continues to be improved and synchronously connected with localities, serving the management of total herds, disease monitoring, and early warning of risks. The veterinary sector has accelerated the digitization of vaccination, quarantine, and slaughter data, thereby enhancing management capacity and the ability to quickly respond to dangerous diseases such as African Swine Fever (ASF).
6. DIVERSIFICATION OF EXPORT MARKETS WITH MANY POSITIVE SIGNS
In the overall picture of the livestock industry in 2025, the total export value of the livestock sector is expected to reach over US$2.1 billion, an increase of 17.4% compared to 2024. For key markets, China continues to open its doors to many Vietnamese livestock products.
Specifically, China has licensed the import of milk and dairy products from 11 factories; bird's nests from 9 enterprises; and also allowed the export of farmed monkeys, farmed crocodiles, feathers (25 enterprises), python skins (4 enterprises), and buffalo and cow horns (2 enterprises). In addition, this market has allowed the import of 128 types of products and recognized 621 establishments as eligible for export, along with 22 enterprises producing fishmeal and fish oil. In the US market, Vietnam has been granted permission to export honey and honey products. Japan allows the import of processed chicken meat, eggs, and processed poultry egg products from Vietnam, while South Korea has opened its doors to pasteurized meat products, eggs, and processed poultry egg products. For the European and UK markets, honey and honey products from Vietnam have been approved for export. Within the ASEAN region, Malaysia allows the import of frozen suckling pig; Singapore, Cambodia, and Laos have opened their doors to eggs and processed poultry egg products. In addition, several other markets such as Taiwan (China), Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Hong Kong continue to record exports of agricultural products, including livestock products from Vietnam.
7. LIVESTOCK FARMING AND FOOD SAFETY – A PILLAR OF SUPPLY ASSURANCE
A prominent highlight of the livestock industry in recent years has been the clear shift from small-scale, scattered models to concentrated farm-based production, applying high technology and food safety standards. During the 2021-2025 period, farm-based and industrial livestock production is expected to account for approximately 55-56% of the total livestock population and 56-58% of the total poultry population, contributing to increased productivity, reduced disease risks, and enhanced food safety assurance.
Parallel to this production restructuring, value chains continue to be formed and expanded, with businesses playing a key role in linking cooperatives and farmers. These models help optimize costs, stabilize output, improve disease control efficiency, and limit the risk of supply disruptions, especially during peak consumption periods.
Livestock farming spaces are also gradually being adjusted to better suit ecological conditions and population pressure. Pig farming tends to shift away from densely populated areas to the North Central region, the Central Highlands, and some northern mountainous provinces; poultry farming is maintained in key areas while expanding in the Central Highlands; while beef and dairy cattle farming is concentrated in areas with advantages in land availability, natural conditions, and the potential for high-tech investment.
8. IMPROVING AND STRONGLY ENFORCE THE LIVESTOCK LAW
From January 1, 2025, the 2018 Livestock Law (amended) officially came into effect, marking a major shift in the management and development of Vietnam's livestock industry towards a modern, sustainable, and transparent direction. The implementation of the Law has led to significant changes in the structure of livestock production: tens of thousands of small-scale farms are forced to review their production locations, renovate their barns, or find new locations that comply with planning regulations; at the same time, businesses with land and financial resources are increasing investment to expand their scale according to new standards.
In addition, to support the implementation of the Law and improve management efficiency, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine have issued and updated many guiding documents, Circulars, and regulations on decentralization and delegation of authority in the field of animal husbandry and veterinary management (effective from mid-2025), helping to unify administrative procedures and facilitate the control and supervision of animal husbandry activities.
9. VAT TAX ADJUSTMENT: REDUCING COST PRESSURE ON THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY
In 2025, the VAT tax policy for the livestock industry and agricultural products continues to attract significant attention from the business community, industry associations, and regulatory agencies. From July 1st, 2025, the 2024 VAT Law officially comes into effect, adjusting the group of tax-exempt items and expanding the application of the 5% VAT rate to certain unprocessed agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products at the commercial stage. This regulation directly impacts capital flow and circulation costs in the livestock chain, especially in the animal feed and raw material production sectors, as businesses are required to declare and provisionally pay 5% VAT, increasing financial pressure and prolonging capital turnover due to the tax refund period.
Faced with this situation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, along with livestock industry associations, have repeatedly petitioned the Ministry of Finance and the Government to standardize the application of VAT to livestock raw materials and products, including animal feed, in order to overcome the inconsistent application of VAT across localities for traditional raw materials such as rice, corn, and bran, which increases input costs for livestock farmers.
Based on these recommendations, the Government and the Ministry of Finance have proactively reviewed and proposed amendments to the Value Added Tax Law and its guiding decrees to address VAT-related issues. Notably, the draft amendments focus on reclassifying products that are not subject to VAT declaration when transacting between businesses and cooperatives, while also allowing for input VAT deductions, thereby facilitating the circulation of goods and reducing financial costs throughout the livestock supply chain.
(Source: Chan nuoi Vietnam)
