High-mountain goat herder finds prosperity through raising goats

"The flock runs joyfully around the yard, dozens of kids are frolicking in the newly renovated goat birthing room; the glossy-feathered chickens leap and circle among the trees." At noon on October 12, the reporter came to Zhao Lilei's high-mountain ecological breeding farm in Laolin Group, Jieling Village, Mituo Town, Taihu County, and saw a scene full of vitality.

"We can't rely only on others' sympathy and government relief; we must use our own hands to improve the living conditions a little more for our two daughters and my wife." Goat herder Zhao Lilei, clasping hands as rough as pine bark, told the reporter.

More than a decade ago, Zhao Lilei and his wife, in response to the family planning policy, had two daughters, and the family lived a comfortable life working away from home. However, as their eldest daughter Yingying was diagnosed with dermatomyositis, the family's peaceful life was shattered. The couple long shuttled between hospitals, and out of sympathy, the boss insisted on paying Zhao Lilei his wages. Later, Zhao Lilei brought the family back to their hometown and opened an auto repair shop. Because he could not afford to hire workers, the business soon could not be sustained. Zhao Lilei had no choice but to take up motorcycle repair. Not long after, as Yingying's condition worsened and she needed more care, the motorcycle repair business also had to close.

To make it easier to care for his two daughters and reduce his wife's burden, Zhao Lilei began ecological breeding on the high mountain at the doorstep of his home. In 2002, he seized the opportunity and, when prices were low, purchased free-range goat breeding stock from surrounding areas. After years of operation, Zhao Lilei's flock grew to more than 200 goats, and his chickens also grew to more than 300, with an annual income of more than 50,000 yuan. To save costs, Zhao Lilei took on everything from technical management to cleaning and sanitation, working day and night, and persisted in ecological breeding, so his road grew wider and wider.

Now, the family's income plus reimbursement from the New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme is just enough to cover the eldest daughter's medical expenses. After dropping out of primary school, Yingying has stayed at home, and Zhao Lilei borrowed money to buy her a computer for internet access. Now, Yingying has learned to use the computer and has begun helping her father learn about breeding knowledge. Local goat sterilization had never met standards, affecting herd quality, so Zhao Lilei used his own flock to carry out experiments, finally mastered the key techniques, and taught them to local people for free. For this, he paid the price of 29 dead goats and a loss of 70,000 yuan.

The local Party committee and government have always cared about and supported Zhao Lilei: they included his whole family in the scope of minimum living security assistance and delivered on family planning support policies. Not long ago, Zhao Lilei had just obtained a poverty alleviation loan. He quickly built a goat birthing room, was preparing to build a new goat shed, and was also preparing to join with nearby poor households to develop yellow cattle breeding, leading everyone to prosperity together.