Suitability of different farm types for cattle development in Northern Vietnam

In Vietnam, beef is in a high national demand. A majority of the cattle population is raised in household farms. The Northern provinces are encouraged to improve beef production in quantity and meat quality. Developing beef production must take into account bio-economic performance of cattle under conditions of varying farming systems and their specific purpose. This study investigates cattle production under three stratified farm types in northern mountainous region of Vietnam, including: prevalent smallholder mixed farms (small farms); smallholder mixed farms with a tendency to increased herd size and collective use of natural pastures (medium farms); and specialized beef-breeding farms (large-scale farms). The study compares the relation of poverty level and resource endowment between cattle keeping and non-cattle keeping farms and between farms of different remoteness and ethnic groups. This book aims to compare the suitability, efficiency and sustainability for beef production of the different farm types. The potential for developing beef production is assessed in a stratified sample of farm types and in a survey on a random sample of smallholder farms in the study region. The study was carried out in Son La province, a northern mountainous province of Vietnam. Results revealed that the differences in animal productivity, farm organization and economic success of household farms were related to the region. Household farms raised cattle at low input levels. The total revenue from cattle depended on the use of non-market functions of cattle on the household farms. The less poor farmers had more advantages than the poorer in allocating different resources for keeping higher numbers of cattle together with other livestock species. High economic losses were observed on all large farms due to the lack of professional management, high feed costs and low animal performance. The most promising type of farm for profitable beef production in the study region was the medium mixed farm, where the farmers could increase their cattle production on the basis of available fodder resources from pastures with limited use of supplemental feed. The spontaneous formation of farmer groups could be developed towards co-operative beef raising and marketing. The support of the province for implementing appropriate policies and credit programs to provide initial capital and connection to markets is necessary. Development of the medium farms could be a contribution to the beef market and poverty reduction in the region.