To develop this livestock industry, the provincial agricultural sector is focusing on improving the quality of breeding stock and promoting linkages to form a closed value chain.
Improving the quality of breeding stock
The total cattle population in the province is estimated at 402,510 head, including native and crossbred cattle. Of these, native cattle are mainly local yellow cattle; crossbred cattle include Sind, Brahman, purebred Brahman, Droughtmaster, Red Angus, BBB (Blanc Bleu Belge), Charolais, and several other high-yielding breeds.
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| The province's sun-dried beef product is being showcased at trade fairs. |
Overall, cattle farming in the province is mainly on a household scale, accounting for nearly 56%, therefore the quality of breeding stock greatly affects efficiency. Mr. Truong Ngoc Dong from Phu Thanh village (Tuy An Nam commune) said that male calves usually fetch a higher price than female calves on the market. If it is possible to proactively select the sex of calves to suit market demand during breeding, the economic efficiency will be higher.
In addition, improving the local cattle herd, which previously had small stature and low weight, by replacing them with high-yielding, healthy hybrid breeds that gain weight well has helped many livestock farmers increase their income. Mr. Do Van Manh's family in Son Hoa commune previously mainly raised local yellow cattle, resulting in small, slow-growing cows. Since applying artificial insemination with the BBB hybrid breed, their herd has grown faster, gained more weight, and fetched higher prices. "I just sold two hybrid calves for nearly 95 million VND, about 15 million VND more than the old breed," Mr. Manh shared.
Mr. Nguyen Van Lam, Deputy Head of the Provincial Department of Livestock and Veterinary Medicine, stated that to have a high-quality cattle herd, proper breeding practices are crucial. However, this area in the province still faces many limitations. Many localities have only focused on technical training and have not effectively stimulated demand for high-quality breeds or built an efficient network of insemination technicians at the grassroots level. Some facilities have applied sex-sorted semen techniques to increase the percentage of male or female calves born according to needs. However, this method is technically complex and more expensive than conventional breeding, so it has not been widely adopted by households.
"In the coming time, the province will promote the improvement of breeding stock quality, develop high-yield livestock breeds, and form a closed-loop livestock farming - slaughtering - processing chain; encourage circular farming models, reduce emissions, and increase the added value of products," Mr. Lam affirmed.
Promoting supply chain linkages
The province currently has 617 cooperatives, 227 cooperative groups, and 937 farms engaged in cattle farming. In addition, many large enterprises have invested in the livestock sector in the area, such as THACO AGRI Group, Hung Nhon Group, and Japfa Comfeed Vietnam Group. The province has also planned approximately 7,594 hectares of land for concentrated livestock farming by 2030. These are favorable conditions for Dak Lak to develop the beef industry along the value chain, applying high technology, and aiming to become a high-quality beef center in the Central Highlands region.
Tuy An Nam commune is one of the localities with the largest cattle population in the province, with nearly 4,900 head, of which about 95% are crossbred cattle. The locality has converted 80 hectares of low-yield rice land to grass cultivation to support cattle farming and has identified the development of beef cattle farming as a commercial sector linked to value chain integration.
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| The Provincial Agricultural Extension Center visited a model farm raising hybrid cattle for high economic value in Tuy An Nam commune. |
Mr. Nguyen Hoai Long, Vice Chairman of the Tuy An Nam Commune People's Committee, believes that to enhance the value of this industry, it is necessary to shift from traditional livestock farming to commodity production through the development of cooperatives as key links in the supply chain. Currently, the locality is focusing on improving the quality of the cattle herd by expanding the application of artificial insemination with sex-sorted semen, combined with training and upgrading the skills of local insemination technicians; and building intensive, circular beef cattle farming models.
According to Mr. Dinh Van Dang, Director of the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, beef cattle farming is not only a livelihood but also a long-term agricultural development strategy for the province. Therefore, Dak Lak needs a new, more decisive and synchronized approach to avoid missing the opportunity to transform its advantages into economic value.
“The key solution is to connect four entities with four specific roles. The agricultural extension sector plays a connecting and leading role in implementing cattle herd improvement throughout the province. The commune-level People's Committees organize the implementation of policies down to individual livestock households, provide support, and build model farms. The livestock and veterinary sector manages and restructures the beef cattle herd. And businesses play a role in connecting the market, supplying standard bull semen, providing technical training, and purchasing products after production…,” Mr. Dang informed.
Minh Duyen
Source: https://baodaklak.vn/kinh-te/202606/tim-huong-gia-tang-gia-tri-chan-nuoi-bo-thit-3e82679/
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