Ms. Vuong Em Mon Tha, from Chac Tung hamlet, Tai Van commune, Can Tho city, feeds her dairy cows in the afternoon in preparation for milking.
While feeding her cows, Mrs. Vuong Em Mon Tha, from Chac Tung hamlet, Tai Van commune, recounted: “I have been raising dairy cows for over 20 years now. At that time, my family was struggling, so we received support from the Heifer project in the form of a dairy cow. After 3 years of care, the cow started producing milk, yielding 15-18 kg per day, which helped my family earn some extra income and didn't require us to work as laborers.”
Starting with just one dairy cow, Mrs. Mon Tha's family now owns a herd of 18 cows, including 11 heifers and 7 currently producing milk. They yield 70-100 kg of fresh milk, selling it at 13,500 VND/kg, resulting in a profit of over 500,000 VND per day after deducting expenses. In addition to selling milk, they also dry and sell cow manure, generating an income of over 10 million VND per year.
According to Ms. Mon Tha, over 20 years of raising cows, when cows give birth, the female cows are kept to develop the dairy herd, while the male cows are sold and those with problems during the rearing process are gradually culled each year (broken legs, low milk production), earning her over 100 million VND. Ms. Mon Tha plans to expand her barns, preparing for the next herd of dairy cows to start producing milk by the end of this year, bringing the total number of dairy cows in her household to 18.
To ensure a food supply for her dairy cows, Ms. Mon Tha dedicated 6,000 square meters of her family's rice paddy land to growing grass for the cows. Thanks to the abundant food source and scientific care methods guided by experts, the dairy cows at Ms. Mon Tha's household consistently produce good quality milk, bringing in a stable income and helping her escape poverty sustainably, becoming a well-off household.
Ms. Kim Thi Sa Ranh, from Chac Tung hamlet, Tai Van commune, also has over 20 years of experience in dairy farming. Initially, seeing many households in the hamlet earning good income from dairy farming, Ms. Sa Ranh bought one dairy cow to raise, and then developed her herd year by year. According to Ms. Sa Ranh, dairy farming requires less labor than other livestock, cows are less susceptible to disease, and their feed mainly consists of cutting grass for them to eat. To date, Ms. Sa Ranh maintains a dairy herd of 14 cows and has sold over 100 culled cows and male cows after giving birth. Currently, Ms. Sa Ranh produces 100 kg of fresh milk per day, with a profit of over 600,000 VND per day after deducting expenses.
“To ensure a clean grass supply for the cows, I converted 8,000 square meters of rice paddy land to pasture; at the same time, I have to stockpile an additional 1,000 bales of dry straw for the cows to eat during the dry season. To protect the herd and ensure good milk production, I need to supplement the cows' calcium once a month; prepare specialized salt licks for the cows and feed them brewer's yeast, but most importantly, I must ensure they have enough fiber in their diet, such as fresh grass or dry straw; and vaccinate them against livestock diseases every six months according to the instructions of the relevant authorities,” Ms. Sa Ranh shared.
Mr. Thach Ho Xuan Thanh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tai Van commune, said: “The dairy herd in the commune has 591 cows, with a milk production of over 776 tons in the first six months of the year. The commune's advantage is having a milk purchasing cooperative, ensuring stable prices and providing daily income for farmers. Besides milk, farmers can also sell calves and breeding cows, and utilize cow manure for organic fertilizer or biogas production, increasing profits and reducing production costs. Thanks to dairy farming, many households in the commune, especially Khmer ethnic households, have escaped poverty and become relatively wealthy. To maintain and develop the dairy herd, the commune will guide farmers in applying scientific and technical advancements in livestock farming and herd management; improve breed quality and feed sources; strengthen veterinary work and disease prevention; and provide preferential loans and technical training.”
Text and photos: THUY LIEU
Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/vuon-len-kha-gia-nho-bo-sua-a207923.html
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