Tan Ky: Farmers invest in dairy farming.

(Baonghean) - Taking advantage of its geographical location and land resources, many farmers in Tan Ky district have boldly shifted to a new direction in production, namely dairy farming, which brings high economic efficiency.

Arriving at Hamlet 3, Nghia Hop Commune, we visited the home of Mr. Nguyen Hung Son, a pioneer in family-based dairy farming in Tan Ky. He lived in a sturdy, spacious house, next to which was a livestock barn housing 10 dairy cows (Australian breed).

Mr. Nguyen Thu Ngoan's dairy farm, with a capacity of 50 cows, in Con Chua hamlet, Nghia Dong commune, is currently under construction.

Ms. Le Thi Luong (Mr. Son's wife), while cleaning the barn, said: "Previously, raising beef cattle didn't cost much in terms of buying breeding stock and daily feed, and the care was simple, requiring less effort in cleaning. When I first switched to raising dairy cows, I was quite confused about the technical aspects of care, but with guidance from Vinamilk's staff, I successfully applied the techniques from care to milking. Dairy cows adapt well to cool temperatures, so the barn must be dry and clean, divided into separate compartments to house each cow individually, making milking easier and ensuring hygiene in the barn. Raising dairy cows requires strict adherence to the nutritional regime and daily feeding schedule, as Vinamilk's staff directly inspect and evaluate all aspects of care, from barn environment hygiene to feed, every day."

Ms. Luong said: In August 2014, the family invested 240 million VND to buy 4 mature dairy cows, 2 of which were pregnant, along with about 200 million VND for building barns. After 11 months of raising them, the 4 cows have given birth to 4 calves. The 4 mature cows are milked twice a day, in the morning and late afternoon, with each cow producing 30-40 liters of milk, which is supplied to Vinamilk Dairy Company. With 4 cows, the family earns 1.2-1.6 million VND per day, and after deducting expenses, the profit is about 50%. The bigger gain is that the 4 cows have given birth to 4 calves, each currently worth 40 million VND. Customers have come to buy them, but the family is not selling because they plan to expand their dairy farming operation in the future. Speaking about economic benefits, Ms. Luong confided: "Since getting married, my husband and I have worked hard, actively taking on more farmland and raising cows, pigs, and chickens, but our family's finances haven't been very abundant. Since we started raising dairy cows, although it's only been a short time, the economic benefits are clearly evident."

Inspired by the successful dairy farming model of Mr. Nguyen Hung Son's family, several other families in Hamlet 3, Nghia Hop Commune, have boldly invested in purchasing dairy cows, such as the families of Mr. Nguyen Van Manh, Mr. Tran Duy Cuong, and Mr. Chu Van Loan… However, due to limited capital, each of these families initially purchased only two cows, with the aim of gradually expanding their dairy herds locally. Notably, Mr. Nguyen Thu Ngoan's family in Con Chua Hamlet, Nghia Dong Commune, is investing over 5 billion VND to build a farm capable of raising 50 dairy cows at once.

Mr. Ngoan's farm is built on a high, fertile plot of land near the Con River, far from residential areas. The farm has a tiled roof, a concrete floor, and a complete cooling and sanitation system. Mr. Ngoan explained: "For dairy cows imported from Australia, which prefer a cool climate, the barn must be designed to ensure good ventilation in the summer. There should be no surrounding walls, and a misting system is needed to help the cows withstand the hot summer weather. Recently, I bought 5 cows worth 300 million VND, and after monitoring, they are eating normally and developing well. I plan to bring in another 20 cows soon, creating jobs for about 10 local workers." Mr. Ngoan's farm covers 5 hectares, a large area thanks to the commune's land consolidation policy. Of that land, he allocated 1 hectare for building barns and the remaining 4 hectares for planting elephant grass, ensuring sufficient roughage for the herd of cattle in the future.

The dairy farm owned by Ms. Le Thi Luong's family in Nghia Hop commune generates over 30 million VND per month from milk sales.

Mr. Nguyen Ba Thuc, Head of the Agriculture Department of Tan Ky District, said: "Innovation in livestock farming is a suitable and necessary direction for farmers today. The investment by 5 households in Nghia Hop and Nghia Dong in dairy farming is a new direction, suitable to the geographical location and land potential, and should be encouraged and replicated. The production land in these localities is mainly sandy loam, very favorable for growing elephant grass, and has convenient transportation conditions, with the Ho Chi Minh Highway running through them. However, in the past, Vinamilk Dairy Company only signed contracts with the families and there was no cooperation with the district government. Therefore, to reassure farmers in production and livestock farming, the district has proactively met with the company to cooperate and coordinate between the 'three parties' to create a closer link." Once the livestock farming households are stable, the Department of Agriculture will advise the District People's Committee to direct the locality to establish a dairy farming cooperative, and then develop a plan for developing dairy farming according to the family model, aiming towards the national goal of building new rural areas.

Xuan Hoang