Using processed straw bales to fatten cattle in Phong Hien.

Straw is one of the main sources of roughage for raising buffalo and cattle, especially in winter. Currently, straw is collected by machine, resulting in large quantities and convenient storage for year-round use in agricultural production and livestock farming. However, in the past, people have only used baled straw in its raw form to feed buffalo and cattle, so the efficiency has not been high.

Straw is characterized by its dryness, bulkiness, and low nutritional quality, with a high silica content (12-16%), which is the main reason for poor digestibility. Feeding unprocessed straw will limit livestock's ability to eat it. Therefore, to use straw effectively in buffalo and cattle farming, it needs to be processed in various ways to increase its palatable, nutritious, and digestible properties.

To improve the efficiency of straw use in livestock farming, in 2023, the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center developed a model for processing baled straw (mixed with other ingredients) to make fattening feed for cattle. The model was implemented at a cattle farm in Phong Hien commune (Phong Dien district).

The technology applied to the model involves using a straw baler and a feed mixer with a capacity of 3.5 m³. The ingredients used in the mixing include straw, brewer's yeast, cassava pulp, rice bran, molasses, industrial feed, salt, etc. The amount of ingredients for each batch ranges from 400-500 kg, and each batch takes 40-45 minutes to complete. The cost of the mixed feed after mixing is 2,300 VND/kg.

The processed feed mixture is soft and moist, with a pleasant aroma, stimulating the cows' appetite compared to unprocessed feed. As a result, the cows gained 800-900g/day and generated a profit of 1.5 million VND/cow after 3 months of rearing.

Mr. Nguyen Tan Sau, a cattle farmer in Phong Hien commune, shared that processing baled straw into animal feed for cattle not only provides a nutritious food source but also maximizes the use of straw in the fields to store feed during the rainy season and floods. The model of processing straw into cattle feed developed by the Agricultural Extension Center is truly beneficial and meaningful for cattle farmers.

Mr. Le Van Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, highly appreciated the results achieved by the straw processing model for fattening cattle. The model contributes to implementing the agricultural sector's policy of promoting mechanization, applying high technology to agricultural production, and promoting organic and circular agriculture. The straw baling processing model contributes to the development of intensive buffalo and cattle farming and the overall herd size in the province.

Using baled straw as feed for buffaloes and cattle will help reduce the burning of straw in the fields, which causes many negative consequences and waste. To ensure the model is widely adopted and suitable for practical application, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development proposes and facilitates the continued dissemination of information, surveys, and assessment of needs by the Agricultural Extension Center and other relevant units, while also selecting and applying appropriate straw processing technologies suitable for current household-scale livestock farming.

Text and photos: Bao Quang