Exploiting the advantages of forest hills to develop livestock farming

After a period of grazing on the hill, Mr. Lo Van On, Cang hamlet, Doan Ket commune (Da Bac) takes care of his buffalo herd in the barn to help them grow well.

Da Bac is a highland district with a large area of ​​productive forest land. For a long time, people here have strongly developed livestock farming, especially buffaloes and cows, and are now expanding goat farming. A typical example is the family of Mr. Lo Van On, Cang hamlet, Doan Ket commune, with 5 hectares of forest hills, for many years has maintained the buffalo farming profession. From 2 breeding buffaloes, each year his family has 2 more calves. The income from selling breeding buffaloes is about 30 million VND/year. Mr. On shared: "Raising cattle is the most suitable in the highlands. Every day I let the buffaloes out on my family's hills, and in the afternoon I herd them back. During the time of herding buffaloes, I still take advantage of taking care of the forest hills. Raising buffaloes is suitable, but the current price is a bit low, so the economic efficiency is not high."

Also having a large hilly area, in recent years, the family of Mrs. Sa Thi Day, Bao hamlet, Giap Dat commune (Da Bac) has switched from raising cows to raising goats. According to Mrs. Day, raising cows is difficult due to the decrease in selling prices. Therefore, 3 years ago, her family sold cows and borrowed more capital from the Social Policy Bank to switch to raising goats. Currently, the family's hill area growing Bodhi and Trau trees is 4-5 years old, very suitable for developing livestock farming. Mrs. Day shared: "The family bought local goats to raise, suitable for local grazing conditions. Compared to raising cows, raising goats is more economically efficient because goats reproduce quickly, are omnivorous, easy to sell and have stable prices."

Goat farming is also a direction that many people in the mountainous district of Da Bac focus on, concentrated in the communes of Tu Ly, Cao Son, Nanh Nghe, and Giap Dat. In addition, taking advantage of the hilly and forest areas, some households also develop indigenous black pig farming, concentrated in the communes of Cao Son, Doan Ket, and Tan Minh. According to the data of the People's Committee of Da Bac district, the whole district currently has a herd of over 58,000 livestock. Of which, the herd of buffalo is over 9,300, the herd of cows is over 10,400, the herd of goats is over 8,400, and the herd of pigs is nearly 30,000.

In the whole province, in recent years, people have also focused on exploiting the advantages of hills and forests for livestock farming. In addition to raising buffaloes, cows, goats and pigs, some localities have also developed a model of raising chickens on hills, typically in Lac Thuy and Lac Son districts. By the end of the first quarter of 2025, the total buffalo herd in the province will reach over 103,000 heads; over 89,000 heads of cows; nearly 559,000 heads of pigs; and nearly 8.5 million heads of poultry.

Comrade Tran Tien Truong, Deputy Head of the Provincial Department of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary and Fisheries, said: In recent years, fluctuations in market prices have affected the livestock industry, especially buffalo and cattle farming. Due to limited grazing areas, many households have switched to confinement or herding. However, in some highland communes, the advantage of large hills and forests still creates favorable conditions for livestock farming development. To raise livestock effectively, people need to take advantage of available food sources to reduce costs, while focusing on disease prevention and control, especially full vaccination to limit risks.

Written by Dao

Source: https://baohoabinh.com.vn/12/200984/Khai-thac-loi-the-doi-rung-phat-trien-chan-nuoi.htm