Efficiency from dairy farming linkage in Thai Hoa town

In 2016, thanks to the preferential loan interest rate support policy of Thai Hoa Town People's Committee, Mr. Duong Hoang Duc's family in Phu My hamlet, Tay Hieu commune (Thai Hoa town) boldly invested in building a barn to raise 5 pigs.dairy cow. Initially, raising livestock encountered many difficulties due to lack of experience in care. However, with the support of training, transfer of science, technology as well as disease prevention and control methods from the Town Agricultural Service Center, Mr. Duc's family has better understood the techniques of care as well as milk harvesting.

The scale of his family's dairy herd is growing. Up to now, his dairy farm has over 50 cows, of which more than 30 are in the process of exploitation. On average, the family earns about 400 kg of milk per day.

Mr. Duong Hoang Duc in Phu My hamlet, Tay Hieu commune (Thai Hoa town) is taking care of his family's dairy cows. Photo: Quang Huy

Mr. Ducsaid: After 7 years of raising cows, I see that raising dairy cows is the right direction, bringing stable economic development to the family. During the raising process, we have the opportunity to exchange experiences, find solutions when facing difficulties, thanks to which the quality of milk is increasingly improved, and the selling price is stable.

As for Mr. Tran Van Hai's family in Block 4, Long Son Ward (Thai Hoa Town), raising dairy cows is truly a "savior" for his family to become one of the well-off households in Long Son Ward. Initially, with support of more than 100 million VND from preferential loans, his family decided to invest in raising 6 cows. Although there were times when he himself was discouraged because taking care of dairy cows was not simple. But with high determination, taking short-term to sustain long-term, the family's herd of dairy cows has increased day by day.

Dairy farming linkage brings high economic efficiency to Mr. Tran Van Hai's family. Photo: Thu Trang

Currently, 22/44 cows of the family are milking regularly every day, with the average selling price fluctuating from 12 - 14 thousand VND/kg as present, also bringing in a profit of about 400 million VND/year. The economic efficiency from dairy cows is quite stable, the family continues to expand the scale of raising livestock.

Mr. Hai shared: Before, my family raised many different types of livestock, but the economic efficiency was not high. Since raising dairy cows, I have found it much more effective than other types of livestock, I hope toLinkage in livestockwill be more and more sustainable for the family to continue expanding the farm.

Every day, the cows are milked twice and purchased by Vinamilk at a stable price. Photo: Quang Huy

To stimulate demand and help dairy farmers boldly invest in production, in 2010, Thai Hoa Town People's Committee cooperated with Vinamilk Dairy Company to support interest rates on loans, technical training, supply of breeding animals, and food sources. In particular, it guarantees 100% of the milk output of the herd for the farmers. Along with that, every year, Thai Hoa Agricultural Service Center has also supported artificial insemination, vaccination to prevent and control epidemics, etc., so the dairy herd in Thai Hoa Town has increased day by day.

Up to now, the whole town has nearly 20 households raising cattle with a total herd of over 300 cows. Of these, 240 dairy cows are being exploited for milk, the average monthly milk output imported for businesses is over 80 tons of fresh milk. In total, dairy farmers in Thai Hoa town earn over 10 billion VND annually.

The total herd of dairy cows in Thai Hoa town has been growing in recent years. Photo: Thu Trang

Mr. Dang Thai Hoa - Director of Agricultural Service Center of Thai Hoa Town affirmed:Over the years, the local government, together with all levels and sectors in the town, has had many policies to support livestock farming households. Thanks to the association with dairy farming, the economic life of households has improved significantly. Many households have not only escaped poverty but also become well-off and rich.

In particular, this development direction also helps local people find solutions to the problem of household economic development; thereby, helping people gradually change their small-scale, free-range farming habits to large-scale, concentrated farming.