Growing grass to fatten buffalo and cows for high income

(Baonghean.vn) – For many years now, farmers in many communes in Anh Son district have converted ineffective production areas to grass growing for fattening cattle and buffaloes. Thanks to that, the total herd of cattle and buffaloes has increased every year, now reaching over 37 thousand. This model is bringing high economic efficiency to local farmers.

Ms. Tran Thi Ngan's family in village 5, Dinh Son commune, has been raising fattening cows for nearly ten years. At first, the cows' food was natural grass and corn that was purchased. In 2013, knowing that VA06 grass was very good for raising cows, she immediately implemented it. At first, it was only a few sao, then gradually expanded; now it has reached over 5 sao of grass.

Ms. Ngan said: “Elephant grass grows well on many types of soil, and requires little fertilizer or care. Thanks to growing grass, we can proactively source animal feed, and the feed is rich in nutrients, so the herd of cows grows well. Each batch, my family fattens 12-15 cows, and after 3-4 months they can be sold. On average, my family sells 4 batches each year, and after deducting expenses, the profit is approximately 200 million VND.

Many farmers in Dinh Son and Anh Son communes have converted their production land to grass cultivation focusing on fattening cattle.

Growing grass to fatten cattle brings 3-4 times higher profits than growing previous crops on the same area. The economic efficiency of growing grass to raise cattle brings high economic efficiency, because grass costs little, care is low, and the price of livestock is high.

The model of growing grass for raising buffaloes is a new economic development direction in Dinh Son in recent years. Currently, in 14 villages in the commune, each village has 30-40 households growing grass with a total area of ​​15 hectares. The model of growing grass for raising buffaloes and cows is widely replicated in Anh Son district; concentrated in some communes: Tho Son, Thanh Son, Vinh Son, Tao Son....

Thanks to growing grass, we can proactively have a source of livestock feed. The feed is rich in nutrients, so the cows grow well.

Currently, the total herd of buffalo and cows in Anh Son district is over 37,000, so the demand for green food is very large. The district strives to have a total herd of 43,000 buffalo and cows by 2020.

Anh Son district plans to expand the planting area and develop buffalo and cow herds in the area.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Dang - Head of the Department of Agriculture of Anh Son district said: With the goal of increasing the proportion of the livestock industry, recently, the district's agricultural sector has coordinated with localities to promote and encourage people to take advantage of mixed gardens and ineffective rice fields to develop a model of growing grass to raise cows.

In 2015, Anh Son district built a pilot model of "Converting some ineffective rice and color growing areas to grass growing for animal feed" in Vinh Son commune with an area of ​​25 hectares.

In the near future, the district will expand to other localities with an area of ​​200 hectares.

Thai Hien