To develop an effective and sustainable livestock industry, it is essential to apply advanced scientific and technical innovations effectively and promote the reuse of waste from this activity through the circular economy model. This contributes to enhancing the production value of the livestock industry while preventing environmental pollution.
Dual Benefits
According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, most livestock farms in the province currently operate in a closed, circular chain. This includes integrated systems for feed supply, breeding, veterinary medicine, environmental treatment, and product consumption, along with the application of scientific and technological advances such as using 100% high-quality imported breeds, enclosed barns, heating lamps, automatic feeders, cooling fans, and misting systems.
Hồ Toản circular livestock farm
Hồ Toản Joint Stock Company in Mỹ Bằng Commune (Yên Sơn) is one of the pioneering enterprises creatively applying the core principles of circular livestock development. According to Mr. Lương Duy Toản, General Director of the company, they currently raise over 2,700 dairy cows imported from Australia, with 17 barns, two milking houses, and two waste treatment systems. To establish circular livestock development, the company has cultivated nearly 30 hectares of grasslands for feed, partnered with local farmers to buy corn and post-harvest straw from Tuyên Quang, Hà Giang, and Phú Thọ provinces, importing over 12,000 tons of feed annually. The company focuses on thoroughly addressing environmental impacts during production, contributing significantly to balancing the natural ecosystem. With over 2,700 dairy cows, approximately 5,400 tons of waste is produced annually. This waste is utilized through a biogas system, generating over 100 kW/day for lighting and cooling the barns. Additionally, the company has signed contracts to sell waste products to the Hanoi Urban Greenery and Environment Company, creating a significant source of income.
Choosing to raise beef cattle for economic development, Mrs. Lê Thị Kim Dung’s family in Trung Hòa Commune (Chiêm Hóa) has consistently maintained 25–30 beef cattle for over ten years. Although local cattle breeds are smaller than crossbred ones, they command higher prices and sell quickly. Since adopting circular livestock methods in 2021, the family has processed all manure using fermentation with probiotics and treated wastewater through a biogas system for fuel. All waste is fully processed and reused for crop fertilization. As a result, a clean farming environment has reduced disease risks significantly.
The Thanh Sơn free-range chicken farming group in Hợp Hòa Commune (Sơn Dương) comprises seven members raising herbal-fed chickens. According to Mr. Lê Đại Dương, the group’s leader, they previously raised chickens in smaller numbers using traditional methods with lower efficiency. By joining the circular farming model, they received improved breeds, better barn facilities, and training in raising techniques. Chickens now grow faster and fetch higher prices. The closed system, focusing on hygiene and quality feed, has nearly eradicated disease outbreaks. The group now sells surplus manure as fertilizer, generating extra income.
Promoting Green and Sustainable Growth
Circular livestock farming operates as a closed cycle where waste is processed into raw materials for crop cultivation and aquaculture. This creates high-quality, safe products while reducing losses and inefficiencies in production. This sustainable direction is essential for restructuring the livestock sector in the province.
However, the development of circular economy models in livestock production, linked with product consumption, still faces several limitations. For instance, while circular livestock farming models have been implemented, they remain inconsistent and have yet to achieve high efficiency. Currently, the circular farming approach is only systematically applied in integrated farm models. Planning and allocating land for livestock farm development and slaughtering facilities encounter significant challenges, especially in terms of land conversion and allocation to attract investment in large-scale livestock projects.
Household-scale livestock farming in rural areas still accounts for a large proportion. However, the reliance on makeshift, inconsistent farm facilities and limited scientific knowledge for practical application pose challenges in adopting advanced scientific techniques, biosecure farming practices, circular farming models, and VietGAP standards consistently.
Mr. Nguyễn Đại Thành, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, stated that in the coming period, the agricultural sector will focus on transferring advanced scientific and technical knowledge in livestock farming, implementing projects and models involving high-tech applications, biotechnology, disease-safe farming, and the reuse of livestock waste to reduce environmental pollution and ensure sustainable development.
Additionally, the sector will encourage cooperation and linkages in agricultural production to address capital shortages for production and create stable market outlets for agricultural products. Support will also be provided to cooperatives, collaborative groups, and farming households to implement certified agricultural production, establish cultivation area codes, and ensure product traceability.
Nguyen Thanh Hieu
