As one of the main livestock subjects in livestock development in Thanh Hoa province, the agricultural sector and localities with potential to develop beef cattle have encouraged the application of science and technology, building models of safe biological cattle farming, storing roughage... Thereby improving the quality of livestock, bringing high economic efficiency to the people.
Beef cattle farm in Bai Tranh commune (Nhu Xuan).
To improve the quality of beef cattle, in 2023, Thanh Hoa Agricultural Institute implemented the Project "Application of science and technology to build a model of raising crossbred beef cattle in the midland and mountainous districts of Thanh Hoa province". In the districts of Trieu Son, Tho Xuan, Cam Thuy, Thuong Xuan... agricultural staff and people were trained and transferred science and technology of artificial insemination of cows, the process of caring for pregnant cows and caring for F1 crossbred cows, raising commercial crossbred beef cattle at different stages, and mixing feed. In addition, building models such as raising zebu crossbred cows for reproduction for artificial insemination with frozen semen of Droughtmaster cows, fattening F1 crossbred cows with biosafety, linking along the value chain...
Deputy Director of the Center for Animal Research, Testing and Services (Thanh Hoa Agricultural Institute) Le Tran Thai said: "From the construction of models in localities, 2,115 F1 crossbred cows have been created, helping localities proactively create a foundation herd of cows to serve the production of high-quality beef cattle, contributing to the transformation of livestock breeds with high productivity, quality and economic efficiency. In addition, the unit has also built 20 models of commercial farming of biosafe F1 crossbred cows with a scale of 200 F1 Droughmates crossbred cows, with a survival rate of 100%. After 12 months, F1 crossbred cows grew quite well, adapted to local climate conditions; reached a weight of 240kg/cow, and gained 3 to 5% more weight than some zebu breeds. At the same time, a model of fattening cows was built with a survival rate of 100%.
It can be said that crossbreeding is a breeding method widely used in beef cattle breeding to increase the level of heterozygosity and reduce the level of homozygosity. This method will create hybrids with better vitality, higher adaptability and resistance to disease; at the same time, increase fertility, growth, high productivity and good quality.
It is known that on average, each year, localities in the province have artificially inseminated about 27,000 doses of bovine semen, imported some breeds of BBB, Droughtmaster, RedAgus and frozen semen to mate with the zebu crossbred cow herd to improve the productivity and quality of the herd. Specialized beef cattle breeds have been imported into our country to crossbreed and improve local cattle breeds, showing clear hybrid advantages and promoting valuable genetic resources in the direction of increasing productivity and meat quality in different ecological regions, the productivity and meat quality of crossbred animals increased by 30 to 35% compared to local cattle breeds.
In addition to applying science and technology to improve the stature of cattle herds, localities in the province have encouraged people to convert agricultural land with low economic efficiency to grow animal feed crops to proactively source rough and green food. Along with that, take advantage of agricultural by-products and use processing measures to reserve and improve the quality of food. Currently, the whole province has developed about 17,000 hectares of animal feed crops, of which about 80% is the area for growing high-yielding, high-quality grass varieties such as: VA06, Mulato, elephant grass...
Mr. Nguyen The Van in Bai Tranh commune (Nhu Xuan) said: "My family has dedicated 1 hectare of production land to grow Mulato grass for the herd of cows, not only helping the family to be proactive in the source of feed for livestock farming, saving costs in the production process, but also helping to improve productivity and quality of livestock."
On the other hand, to improve the quality of beef cattle, localities in the province have focused on building chain beef cattle farming models, developing production and product consumption linkage models between beef cattle farmers and businesses; focusing on vaccination and implementing disease prevention and control measures.
Currently, to develop high-quality beef cattle, the agricultural sector is coordinating with localities to expand the area of grass for livestock, encourage people to build barns; promote the transfer of scientific and technical advances in livestock farming and disease prevention and control; continue to research and develop new breeds of cattle with high immunity and good meat quality. In addition, create conditions for businesses to invest in livestock farming, especially in the stages of slaughter and product consumption.
Article and photos: Le Ngoc
Source
Comment (0)