Cattle Farmer Rang Shudong: Leading the Way to Prosperity by the Nose

In Tianzhuang Town, Juye County, everyone knows the name Rang Shudong, the "cowherd." With sheer tenacity, he grew his cattle-raising business from small to large, from weak to strong, building it into a large-scale operation and becoming a local "cattle" celebrity.

Walking into the Jianshuo Breeding Farm in Tianzhuang Town, sturdy cattle stand in neat rows, happily munching on fodder. The farm owner, Rang Shudong, is busy serving a "nutritious meal" mixed with silage and cornmeal to the greedy cattle.

Rang Shudong said that four years ago, he was still working at the county agricultural supplies company, and it was only through a friend's introduction that he started down the path of cattle farming. "After conducting on-site inspections, I felt that cattle farming still had a certain development prospect," said Rang Shudong.

Once he had the idea, Rang Shudong began searching online for information and farming methods, and made on-site visits to Heze, Linyi, Yuncheng and other places. From breed selection to management experience, he noted everything down in his notebook and kept it in mind. When his plan had matured, Rang Shudong purchased his first batch of more than 100 cattle to raise.

"The first step when the cattle arrive is disinfection, to prevent epidemics from being introduced, otherwise the consequences would be unimaginable," said Rang Shudong. The key to raising cattle is to be meticulous and careful, treating them like family. If any of their movements is abnormal, they are certainly sick, and measures must be taken to treat them promptly.

"The feeders feed twice a day, and I must be present both times, just to see which cattle are not eating, or whether any are eating little. You have to carefully observe every aspect." In the process of raising cattle, Rang Shudong also came to deeply realize that cattle farming must rely on science and technology, that scientific feeding and standardized breeding must be implemented. In order to learn scientific knowledge and master scientific breeding techniques, he actively participated in various breeding technology training courses held by the county animal husbandry bureau, subscribed to science and technology newspapers and magazines, bought a large number of scientific cattle-raising books, and studied carefully and sought advice humbly.

Hard work pays off, and Rang Shudong, who devoted himself to leading his cattle by the nose, finally received a rich return. "This year calf prices are cheap, and feed is also cheaper than last year, which saves on costs and makes profits even more considerable," said Wang Xudong. At present, his farm already has more than 200 cattle, and some cows have successfully bred more than 30 calves. His annual income can reach more than 400,000 yuan.