Localities in northern mountainous provinces have instructed farmers toprotect their cattle from the ongoing cold spell, which is forecast tolast until late this week.

The instruction came from Minister ofAgriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat in an attempt to minimisedamage caused by the cold weather.

In the northern mountainousprovince of Bac Kan, the People's Committee of Cho Don district saidlocal farmers had been told to put straw on the floor to keep theircattle warm.

Vice Chairman of the committee Ha Sy Huan said thatlocal farmers had been asked not to graze their cattle when temperaturesdropped below 10 degrees Celsius.

Veterinary staff had also been assigned to check for diseases among cattle and poultry, he said.

TuyenQuang province lost over 2,600 cattle due to cold weather in the winterof 2011, and local breeders there have been instructed to cover theircattle cages when severe cold hits.

In a related movement, theministry's Department of Livestock Protection has issued guidelines toshow farmers how to keep their cattle warm during the winter.

Thedepartment said that cattle sheds should protect cows and buffalos fromrain and wind, and be airy in the summer and warm during winter.Breeders should put a 15cm layer of straw on shed floors, and more whenthe weather turns cold and wet. Heaters were also advised along withenough feed and water for the cattle.

Deputy Minister Vu Duc Tamhas ordered localities to draw from local budgets to help poor farmersreinforce sheds to protect cattle from the winter.

A cold spellhit the northern region on December 16 morning, according to theNational Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

During thenext three days, the lowest temperatures in Hanoi are expected to dropto 9 degrees Celsius, with highs of 19C. Severe cold weather is alsopredicted to blanket delta provinces, and the temperature is forecast todrop to zero in several mountainous areas with frost likely.-VNA