Farmers in mountainous districts escape poverty by raising fattened buffalo and cows

The fattening cow farming model in Tam Quang commune, Tuong Duong brings in a profit of 150 million VND/year. Photo: Van Truong.

Tam Quang commune, districtXiangyangCurrently, there are many people raising fattened buffalo and cows, bringing economic efficiency and stable income to the people. Mr. Nguyen Ngoc in Bai So village, Tam Quang commune (Tuong Duong) is feeding his cows with grass and said: Every year, his family sells 2-3 batches, each batch has 6-7 cows, fattened buffalo and cows, earning a profit of 120-150 million VND/year.

Raising buffalo and cows for fattening is not too difficult. Take advantage of the hillside to plant 6 sao of elephant grass and bananas for food. In winter, store more straw, grass, corn leaves and silage to feed buffalo and cows. Waste from livestock is used to compost organic fertilizer for garden and hill crops to increase income.

Farmers in Tuong Duong district use elephant grass grown on hillsides as food for buffalo and cows. Photo: Van Truong

Some households raising fattened buffaloes and cows share their experiences: The most important step is to select breeds, choose lean buffaloes and cows, but with large bones and large stature to buy. Then, fatten them with grass, banana trees, chopped corn mixed with cassava, regularly clean the barn and vaccinate them fully to minimize disease. If fattened properly, their weight can increase by 10 - 15 kg/month, and after 2.5 - 3 months, they can be sold.

Bai So village currently has over 70 households.raising buffalo and cows, fattening,Small households raise 2-3 cows, large households raise 8-10 cows. This model has helped people earn an income of 120-150 million VND/year. For example, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc's household has 10 buffaloes and cows, Mr. Tran Van Do's household has 8 buffaloes and cows...

Cattle and buffalo fattening is developing strongly in Tam Quang commune (Tuong Duong). Photo: Van Truong

Ms. Kha Thi Hien - Chairman of Tam Quang Commune People's Committee added: Currently, Tam Quang commune has 4,500 buffaloes and cows, of which over 120 households raise buffaloes and cows in cages for fattening. To ensure food sources for buffaloes and cows, the commune has planned to plant over 49 hectares of elephant grass in the fields and along streams and creeks. In fact, the model of raising buffaloes and cows for fattening in cages in Tam Quang brings economic efficiency and has become a profession for the people here.

Thanks to the buffalo and cow fattening profession, many households have escaped poverty and even become rich. Raising and fattening buffalo and cows according to the scale of many households has a very favorable output. In addition to selling to the district, traders also come to the place to buy buffalo and cows and bring them to the lowlands for consumption.

In the coming time, Tam Quang commune will continue to promote and mobilize people to replicate the fattening cattle breeding model, taking advantage of capital from programs and projects to support people to invest in expanding barns, increasing the number of livestock and replicating the fattening cattle breeding model to become the economic strength of the locality. Focus on applying scientific and technical advances to help people improve the efficiency of livestock breeding, especially the quality of breeding animals, helping people to become rich right in their hometown.

Raising fattened buffalo and cows in Tuong Duong district is a profession that brings high economic efficiency. Photo: Van Truong

The movement of raising cattle in confinement for fattening in Tam Thai commune has also brought high efficiency. For example, the family of Mr. Vang Van Muon in Can village, Tam Thai commune, from 2020 to now, has invested over 100 million VND to build a barn to raise cattle in confinement with a scale of 15 cows, earning over 150 million VND per year. According to Mr. Lang Van Muon, in the past, the family only raised traditional cattle in a free-range manner, so they often suffered from diseases, but now raising cattle in confinement brings high profits. The source of food for buffaloes and cows is very convenient, mainly taking advantage of growing grass and bananas around streams, streams, and hills.

The representative of Tam Thai Commune People's Committee said: The fattening cattle model has been developed for the past 5 years, initially there were only 2-3 households raising fattening cattle. After seeing the effectiveness, many people have learned and expanded the model, up to now the whole commune has more than 50 models of fattening buffalo and cows, large scale from 10-15 cows, small scale 3-5 cows. In the long term, the commune is encouraging people to expand the scale of fattening buffalo and cows, taking advantage of the land along the river to grow elephant grass, taking advantage of 91 hectares of 2-crop rice to get straw as food for buffalo and cows in captivity.

Mr. Lo Kham Kha - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tuong Duong district added: Up to this point, the whole district has over 55,000 buffaloes and cows, of which over 400 households raise fattened cows effectively such as Tam Quang, Tam Thai, Tam Dinh, Yen Thang, Nga My communes... Not to mention that there are dozens of Mong households in Luu Thong village, Luu Kien commune and Huoi Co, Huoi Man villages, Nhon Mai commune also investing in raising fattened buffaloes and cows, with initial good results.

Farmers in Tuong Duong district build fences to fence off areas to keep buffaloes for fattening. Photo: Van Truong

Determining that developing large-scale livestock farming is the right direction, especially raising buffaloes and cows, in recent years, Tuong Duong district has implemented solutions such as: Converting some areas of low-efficiency agricultural and forestry land, high-lying and infertile land. Reclaiming and improving land along rivers and streams to grow intensive elephant grass for livestock farming. Currently, the whole district has about 200 hectares of elephant grass as a proactive source of food for buffaloes and cows. Building barns suitable for the method of fattening buffaloes and cows, focusing on finding outlets for products./.