The road to wealth through sheep farming grows wider and wider for a farmer with a disability but unyielding spirit

Huang Xuexin, a farmer from Shihao Village Committee in Baocheng Town, Baoting, is 54 years old this year and lives with a disability. But for many years, he has remained optimistic and self-reliant, and with the support of the government, he has carved out a road to wealth through sheep farming.

When the reporter met Huang Xuexin, he was busy working in the sheep pen. Because his left hand was amputated, it cannot fully extend, so his movements appear somewhat uncoordinated. For many years, unable to go out to work due to his disability, the family's income mainly depended on him and his wife brewing glutinous rice wine to make a living, while also supporting three children through school, and life was very hard. In 2000, the county disabled persons' federation launched a "one-on-one" assistance project, so Huang Xuexin applied for 1,500 yuan in start-up funds and began his path of raising sheep.

Because of his physical condition, Huang Xuexin has to put in more hard work than others. On ordinary days, cleaning the sheep pen takes most people less than 10 minutes, but he has to spend nearly half an hour. What is rare is that Huang Xuexin did not slack off because of this, but instead pursued sheep farming with even greater perseverance. At present, Huang Xuexin's sheep-raising scale has grown from the initial 5 sheep to more than 80 sheep now, and his hard work has let him taste the sweetness brought by starting a business.

Not only that, through daily learning and practice, Huang Xuexin also gradually mastered the amount of feed to give and some knowledge of disease prevention in sheep farming, and his breeding experience has become richer and richer. Now, by looking at a sheep's face, legs and coat color, he can tell whether the sheep is sick, and can also identify what disease it has, then prescribe the right medicine.

In 2008, as sheep prices became strong in the market, Huang Xuexin's wallet grew fuller, and he built a 160 sq m small Western-style house, with life becoming more and more prosperous.