In parallel with confinement, sheep are grazed under rubber trees.
Sheep are herd animals that can withstand hot, dry weather. In particular, in the heat of 50 degrees Celsius, other species seek shelter, while sheep still calmly graze in the fields. With these characteristics, sheep are raised in many provinces in the Central region, of which Ninh Thuan is the locality with the largest sheep herd in the country. Recently, in Tay Ninh, a sheep farming model has appeared in Ben Cui commune, Duong Minh Chau district.
Flock of sheep under the rubber forest canopy
Mr. Phan Do Tan Huy, from Ninh Thuan, once went to Long An province to start a career as a "child-minding teacher". Later, he settled down in Hamlet 1, Ben Cui Commune. Previously, he used to raise poultry, but due to unstable prices, he switched to raising livestock. Mr. Huy said that more than 10 years ago, he tried raising some goats and sheep and found that sheep and goats developed better than traditional livestock such as pigs, chickens, ducks, etc.
In 2017, he brought Phan Rang sheep breed to Ben Cui commune to set up a farm. Starting with a few breeds, taking advantage of grass resources in Ben Cui Rubber Plantation and grass in his home garden, up to now, his farm has more than 80 sheep and 60 goats. His sheep herd grows very well, the cost of raising them is not too high, and they are easy to sell when they are ready to be sold.
“Sheep are omnivorous, easy to raise, and can reach 30kg after 8 months. Sheep adapt to all conditions, can be kept in captivity, or let loose on “dry fields and burnt grass”, without needing caretakers. In captivity, only 1 hour of grass cutting per day is enough food for a flock of 80 sheep as it is now. Raising sheep requires less time to care for, suitable for the economic situation of households in remote areas, lacking favorable conditions from nature. The output of sheep is more stable, lamb meat is increasingly favored by many consumers, the average selling price of lamb meat is 110,000 VND/kg, breeding sheep is 3-4 million VND/head. Raising sheep is more profitable than raising goats and cows,” Huy shared.
Mr. Huy's sheep farm is built quite simply, but it is tall, airy, bright, and has feeding and drinking troughs. The barn is about 1 meter above the ground, creating ventilation and enough height for easy cleaning. He divides the barn into 2 compartments, one side for sheep, the other side for goats. The sheep's food is mainly fermented bamboo shoot shells, grass, and dry rubber leaves in the garden...
In the dry season, you can add more refined foods such as bran, corn flour, and wheat flour, but roughage is still the main food. In addition to raising sheep in captivity, Mr. Huy also grazes sheep under the rubber trees in the backyard. After eating their fill, the sheep will follow each other up the stairs into the barn.
According to Mr. Huy, sheep are less susceptible to diseases, but occasionally they still get anthrax, foot-and-mouth disease and liver flukes. Therefore, when raising sheep for 3-6 months, sheep must be vaccinated against liver flukes or have their profits reduced. In addition, to prevent and treat diseases in sheep, the barn must be kept clean, and manure must be cleaned daily. Disinfect once a month with lime or dipterex, and periodically bathe and brush the sheep clean. The drinking trough must be clean and have enough clean water. Absolutely do not use moldy foods...
Mr. Phan Do Tan Huy feeds sheep grass.
Replicating the model
Sheep are special livestock with great potential for economic development. Mr. Huy is willing to share his experience in raising breeding sheep for those who want to learn. For ewes that are well fed, they will breed after 6 months. After 5 months, the sheep will give birth. 20 days after giving birth, the ewes will breed again and become pregnant again 1.5 months later.
The first time a ewe gives birth to only one lamb, but each subsequent litter has 2-4 lambs. Each year, ewe gives birth to 2 litters. Sheep are raised for 8-10 years before being culled. After about 6 months of raising, the breeding sheep will be sold. Raising sheep has a fast turnover and is highly effective. This is a new direction and way of doing things in the economic restructuring, choosing livestock that brings high income value in rural areas.
Mr. Pham Quang Thao - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Ben Cui Commune said that for a long time, most of the agricultural land in the locality has been planted with rubber, and land for other crops is very scarce. Local people take advantage of the grass under the rubber canopy to raise livestock, mainly cows. Some other households raise goats. Due to the omnivorous nature of sheep, they gain weight and grow quickly, which has initially brought about results.
Raising sheep is very convenient, using grass and agricultural by-products as food for sheep. The main output is in Ho Chi Minh City, Long An, etc. Sheep have high resistance and are rarely sick. Sheep are easy to raise, so some households who want to raise them are contacting Mr. Huy to learn from his experience and buy breeding animals.
The Farmers' Association organized for Mr. Huy and some farmer members to visit and learn about places where sheep are raised in large fields; coordinated with the Agricultural Extension Station to organize a talk on livestock raising, including sheep raising.
Mr. Phan Do Tan Huy grazes sheep in the rubber garden.
Currently, Mr. Huy's sheep herd is growing well, bringing in a stable income, so Mr. Huy plans to open another sheep farm in Binh Phuoc province, with a plan to provide breeding stock, technical support and product consumption for those who want to raise sheep. At the same time, he will open a sheep hill cafe in Ben Cui, so that tourists can visit and "check in" with sheep. According to Mr. Huy, raising sheep is less risky than some other traditional livestock, the output is expanded, and the sheep breed is adapted to the weather and soil conditions of Tay Ninh.
Nhi Tran - Hoang Yen
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