II. Multi-value integration

Free grazing practices

Mr. Phan Dinh Thinh, the head of the Livestock and Veterinary Sub-Department in Ninh Thuan province, stated that due to the decreasing natural pastureland in Ninh Thuan, the grazing areas for goats and sheep have shrunk. Meanwhile, the method of completely confining these animals has led to increased costs, reduced profits, and lower meat quality.

Therefore, local farmers are shifting from free-range grazing to a more concentrated approach to reduce dependence on natural pastureland. In this approach, goats and sheep are allowed to graze in natural pastures during dry weather to forage for food, and then they are brought back to their enclosures to reduce feed costs.

Mr. To Cong Trang, Ninh Phuoc District, mentioned that he is currently raising more than 300 goats and sheep. In addition to natural grazing, he supplements their diet with minerals, salt, protein, and agricultural by-products at night or during rainy and windy days.

"Raising animals in a combination of free-range and enclosure allows us to make the most of natural food sources, saving costs while promoting the healthy development of goats and sheep, resulting in better meat quality compared to complete confinement," said Mr. To Cong Trang.

In addition to the shift to free-range grazing, in order to develop sustainable goat and sheep farming, according to Mr. Phan Dinh Thinh, local farmers have converted some less productive crop areas into high-quality pastureland for processing and supplementing green feed.

Expanding the areas of elephant grass and VA06 grass, as well as utilizing local food sources such as fresh grass and crop residues (rice straw, corn stalks, peanuts, acacia leaves, apple leaves, grape leaves, etc.) for storage and processing into feed for goats and sheep.

According to Mr. Phan Dinh Thinh, to improve the quality of the breed, local farmers have been introducing male goats of breeds like Bach Thao, Boer, and Australian sheep for mating with local female goats and sheep to refresh the gene pool, minimize inbreeding, and produce hybrid offspring with larger size, higher productivity, and better meat quality.

Currently, people in Ninh Thuan mainly raise hybrid sheep, which are crossbred from local breeds and Australian sheep. The advantage of this breed is that it has a greater weight, typically exceeding 30-40% compared to pure local breeds, with an average weight of 50-60 kg per sheep.

Branding

According to the Livestock and Veterinary Sub-Department of Ninh Thuan, to achieve sustainable development in the goat and sheep farming sector, it is essential to establish linkages between livestock farmers and businesses involved in slaughter, procurement, processing, preservation, and distribution. The goal is to gradually bring goat and sheep products to supermarkets, retail stores, daily meals, and even towards exportation.

Therefore, in the near future, there is a need to promote the restructuring of the livestock sector towards planned pastureland-based farms industrial production programs, and product marketing, which is crucial.

Mr. Thinh believes that in order to establish these linkages, policies should be in place to attract large-scale enterprises to invest in goat and sheep farming. Sustaining and developing goats and sheep is a unique product of Ninh Thuan, and the creation of a "Ninh Thuan Goat" certification and a "Ninh Thuan Sheep" brand should be promoted.

Additionally, policies to support farmers in participating in value chain linkages with slaughterhouses, production companies, procurement, processing, preservation, and product distribution are of interest to relevant government departments.

In this context, slaughterhouses are encouraged to join forces with local goat and sheep farmers, providing financial support and technical expertise. This collaboration ensures that the products are purchased and slaughtered in a manner that meets safety and hygiene requirements. Some of the meat is then processed for export.

To ensure the safety of the livestock, the government departments are intensifying their efforts in disease prevention and control, conducting inspections and vaccinations. By the end of the third quarter of this year, more than 3 million vaccine doses have been administered as per the vaccination plan.

In addition to the above solutions, a combination of sheep farming and community-based eco-tourism development is also gaining traction. One unique example is the An Hoa Sheep Ecotourism site located in An Hoa Hamlet, Xuan Hai Commune, Ninh Hai District, which is a popular destination for tourists visiting Ninh Thuan.

This is one of the largest free-range sheep farming locations in Ninh Thuan. It spans vast grassy plains, where thousands of sheep graze and forage freely. Not only does it have naturally grazed sheep, but there are also numerous local farms with herds ranging from 100 to 200 sheep. This is an ideal spot for tourists looking to take photos and learn about sheep farming, as well as the customs and traditions of the local community.

With an economic model that combines farming with community-based ecotourism, it offers a fresh and attractive experience for visitors, making it an ideal destination for both local and out-of-town tourists. Therefore, the development of this type of initiative is seen as a solution to further promote the effective growth of the goat and sheep farming industry in the coming years.