Vietnam’s dairy sector is facing a critical setback: the national dairy cow herd has stagnated, casting doubt on the country’s ability to meet its growth targets. The Vietnam Livestock Association recently informed the Ministries of Industry & Trade, Agriculture & Rural Development, and Health that several traditional dairy hubs—Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Vi (Hanoi), and Moc Chau—are experiencing dramatic declines. In Ho Chi Minh City alone, the herd count has plummeted by over 50%, despite once housing 60% of the nation’s dairy cows.
From 2010 to 2015, Vietnam’s dairy herd grew at an average of 15.4% per year, but between 2020 and 2024, growth has all but evaporated, averaging a mere 0.4% annually.
As it stands, the national herd count hovers around 330,000 cows—only 65% of the targeted 500,000 cows by 2025. Without urgent intervention, the ambitious goal of achieving 650,000–670,000 cows by 2030 now appears increasingly unattainable.
This downturn threatens to disrupt fresh milk production capacity, increasing reliance on imports, destabilizing supply chains, and putting domestic dairy players at a strategic disadvantage.
Industry Insight:
This herd shrinkage is a wake-up call for investors and local stakeholders—sustainable solutions like infrastructure upgrades, smallholder support, and herd regeneration strategies are urgently needed to secure Vietnam’s dairy self-sufficiency goals.
Source : Dairynews7x7 Aug 22nd 2025 Read Full story here