Mr. Son: Developing commercial buffalo and cattle farming.

(Baonghean) - Anh Son district is a vast hilly area with many pastures, very favorable for the development of large-scale livestock farming. To capitalize on this potential, in 2014, the district implemented policies to support people with interest-free loans for developing commercial buffalo and cattle farming in the form of large-scale family farms and ranches. After more than a year of implementation, this has yielded high economic efficiency...

Mr. Tran Van Le's family, residing in Hamlet 2, Long Son Commune, is one of the households that received loans to develop commercial buffalo and cattle farming. His farm is located in the Tien Dien hill area, upstream of the Ba Co dam, covering approximately 30 hectares. Mr. Le stated that in 2005, he purchased land from two local households to establish his farm. At that time, the area lacked roads and was primarily covered with bamboo, reeds, and bushes. He then renovated the land to plant melaleuca trees. He also borrowed nearly 50 million VND from the bank to invest in building three water dams covering 1.5 hectares for fish farming (mainly carp, grass carp, and tilapia) and constructing pens for raising wild pigs and chickens. On average, the farm earns over 100 million VND per year. However, that approach hasn't fully exploited its potential. The farm's large area makes relying solely on growing raw materials monotonous; it needs additional investment in raising large livestock, such as buffalo and cattle, for commercial purposes. Knowing this, acquiring a herd of cattle requires significant capital, while the income from the farm remains low.

The cattle herd of Mr. Tran Van Le's family.

In March 2014, thanks to the district's policy of subsidizing interest rates on loans for raising cattle and buffalo for commercial purposes, Mr. Le's family received a loan of 200 million VND from the bank. Utilizing the large farm area, he raised cattle using a natural grazing method. Initially, the herd consisted of only 20 cows, but now, thanks to good growth and development, the total herd has grown to nearly 40. According to Mr. Le, raising cattle is both highly profitable and requires minimal care. To provide pasture for the cattle, his family regularly cuts melaleuca trees in a staggered manner, covering 10 hectares at a time. After about a year, the trees grow well, and the cattle are then released into this area. This ensures an abundant food supply and reduces the risk of disease. Since starting the farming, his family has consistently had beef cattle to sell, generating a significant income. Because of this success, like many other households, Mr. Le is requesting an extension of his loan for another 12 months.

Near Mr. Le's family farm, there is also the household of Mr. Tran Van Bac, who also raises cattle for commercial purposes with high economic efficiency. Mr. Bac happily shared: "Previously, I was a freelance worker with no stable job, then I came here to develop my farm with an area of ​​10 hectares. Recognizing that the hilly and forested land was spacious and suitable for cattle grazing, my family registered to borrow capital to raise cattle for commercial purposes according to the district's policies. Since raising cattle, I have had regular work and a stable income, so my family's economy has improved significantly." Currently, Mr. Bac's farm has more than 20 cows. He said that raising cattle brings much higher economic value than other livestock, and moreover, the market is easy to sell, so focusing on developing the cattle herd remains a priority for his family in the future.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Phi, Chairman of the District Farmers' Association, said that the policy of supporting interest rates on loans to help local people develop commercial buffalo and cattle farming has been implemented since March 2014. Accordingly, 13 households received support with loans of 200 million VND each, for a period of one year. To ensure the effective use of the loan capital, the district established a Steering Committee to inspect, survey, and evaluate eligible households for participation in the model development in a rigorous, fair, and objective manner. Families receiving loan support are required to ensure adequate barns, labor, veterinary services, and to raise at least 20 buffalo and cattle to meet the criteria.

After one year of implementation, practical inspections showed that participating households used the capital for its intended purpose and effectively utilized the borrowed funds. Many households focused on investing in commercial buffalo and cattle farming in large-scale farms with a large total herd size. Typical examples include Mr. Tran Van Le's household in Hamlet 2, Long Son Commune, which consistently has 45-50 cows in its barn, with a total herd value exceeding 750 million VND, and Mr. Ho Sy Cuong's family in Ha Du Hamlet, Cam Son Commune, which maintains 21 buffaloes, with a total herd value exceeding 600 million VND.

Currently, 9 out of 13 households are raising cattle in confinement with grazing, growing grass, and using green fodder combined with concentrated feed (rice bran, corn), resulting in rapid growth of the herd. The number of cattle traded and bought is frequent, typical examples being Mr. Le Hoai Thanh's household in Hamlet 3, Tam Son Commune; Ms. Pham Thi Buoi's household in Hamlet 1, Thanh Son Commune; and Mr. Tran Van Huong's household in Hamlet 7, Hung Son Commune. Four out of 13 households raise cattle in open pastures without using concentrated feed, focusing on breeding and selecting parent herds for selling calves. As a result, the number of cattle traded and bought is slower compared to the confinement and grazing method with supplemental concentrated feed.

Based on the above results, it can be affirmed that the policies and strategies for developing commercial buffalo and cattle farming in Anh Son district are on the right track, suitable to the actual production conditions of the locality, and open up a path that brings high efficiency to livestock farming activities.

Van Dang