Development and Expansion of Tongliao's Cattle Industry Promotes Prosperity

Cattle eat feed in a shed in Zhalute Banner, Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. 

Taking advantage of its abundant waters, thriving grasslands, and reputation as a producer of quality cattle, Tongliao City in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has been promoting the development of its cattle industry in order to help farmers and herders obtain stable employment in their local areas, achieve sustainable income growth and improve their lives.

Wuyunna, general manager of a food company based in Inner Mongolia, promotes dairy products on a livestreaming platform.

"Twenty-five herders each supply us with at least 1,000 kg of fresh raw milk per day," Wuyunna, general manager of the Malaqin Food Co., Ltd. in Inner Mongolia, remarked in the spring of 2022. “The quality of the milk produced on the Horqin Grassland is good. It is flavourful and nutritious. As you can see, the cooked yogurts and milk bread rolls sell very quickly. They have become popular online, and it's often difficult to keep up with demand! We need more high-quality milk so we can produce more products.”

Located in Tongliao's Horqin Zuoyi Rear Banner, the business processes high-quality milk into traditional local specialties that sell well on various e-commerce platforms. Increasing numbers of farmers and herders have been able to gain employment and boost their incomes near their homes as these types of companies develop and expand.

An employee of a Tongliao-based dairy company uses automated milking equipment.

In Horqin Zuoyi Middle Banner, a local dairy farming company has created around 200 jobs, most of which have been filled by people who are from the area, including a woman named Weitang and her husband. She has worked as a milker at the enterprise for eight years, her husband has been managing the loafing area for dairy cattle for 11 years, and they together earned more than RMB130,000 in 2021. The couple lives only five minutes away from work by car, which gives them plenty of time to take care of their children and parents.

Weitang and her husband have purchased 12 head of cattle that they raise on their own property for additional income and a car that cost RMB130,000. They also had a home of more than 200 sq. m built, and has saved enough money to be able to buy an apartment in central Tongliao.

"The work we do at the company is not difficult," she mentioned. "We have good jobs that pay well, and they are near our home."

The couple has also been happy to broaden their horizons and gain new insights in recent years. They have become familiar with rules and regulations governing various aspects of cattle farming; mastered professional skills; learned communication, coordination, and problem-solving methods and strategies; and developed a positive attitude towards work and life.

Song Liying, human resources and logistics director of the company, stated that 186 farmers and herders, or 90% of the company's staff, have mastered various cattle farming skills. Many employees also earn additional income on top of their salaries by getting involved with the company's industrial chain, such as Weitang's co-worker Xu Hongrui. He earns an extra RMB80,000 selling 50 mu's worth of silage every year in addition to his RMB60,000 annual salary.

The enterprise also provides Xu with training and organic fertilizer made from cow manure free of charge, which saves him money and improves yields and quality.

"I'm very content with my life now," Xu exclaimed. "Three meals are provided at work every day, and my wages and benefits are paid and distributed on time. I even have enough time leftover to farm, which enables me to obtain a second income stream."

"Our employees have experienced a great deal of changes over the years," Song noted. " Most of them used to ride a motorcycle to work. Now our parking lot and the roadsides near our company are full of cars."

Regions suited to cattle farming may benefit from Tongliao's experience and the measures that it has taken in this area.

Source: http://grassland.china.com.cn/2022-05/19/content_41976477.html?f=pad&a=true