35 years of forming high-quality cattle herd: Farmers' benefits

Becoming a center for seed cattle production

By 2020, the former Binh Dinh province had successfully developed a high-quality beef cattle program using BBB (Blanc-Blue-Belgium - Blanc Bleu Belge) and Droughtmaster breeds, with 46,000 head reaching 350 - 500 kg/head and achieving a carcass yield of 55 - 65%.

As “good news travels fast”, farmers in Thua Thien - Hue, Phu Yen, Dong Nai, Quang Ngai flocked to Binh Dinh to purchase cattle for fattening.

According to Dr. Phan Trong Ho, a 6-month-old seed calf in Binh Dinh at that time cost 15 - 25 million VND/head, bringing high income to local farmers. As a result, the high-quality herd continued to grow. Households used earnings from selling seed calves to expand production. For example, a household that previously raised only 3 cattle could increase to 5 after earning 15-25 million VND from selling a seed calf. Binh Dinh naturally became a center for seed-cattle production.

Vo Thi Trinh, in Nghiem Hoa area, An Nhon Nam ward (Gia Lai province), who currently raises two foundation cows of the Brahman breed inseminated with BBB semen and recently calved two BBB crossbred calves, said: “BBB calves fetch a very good price. From early 2025 until now, a 6-month-old BBB male calf sells for up to 20 million VND. Farmers earn 7 - 8 million VND per calf”.

“The seed-cattle market in Binh Dinh province is famous nationwide. If farmers here keep seed calves for fattening, profits are lower than selling them as breeding stock. The high-quality beef cattle program has brought high income to livestock farmers. Producing seed calves yields profits five times higher than fattening cattle. In livestock production, the greatest profit comes from producing breeding stock. When farmers can produce high-quality calves, it marks the success of Binh Dinh’s crossbreeding program”, Dr. Ho affirmed.

From 2015 - 2020, cattle crossbreeding in Binh Dinh province developed not only in lowland areas but also vibrantly in mountainous regions. In remote areas lacking artificial insemination technicians, authorities used agricultural extension funds to purchase qualified breeding bulls (with high hybrid-blood levels) and assigned them to these areas for natural service.

Thanks to this, crossbred herds in Binh Dinh province's mountainous districts such as Vinh Thanh, An Lao, Van Canh developed evenly compared to lowland regions.

Building a brand

The high-quality beef cattle program not only raised farmers’ income but also improved their livestock-management skills. Building on this success, Binh Dinh province authorities continued developing the “Binh Dinh high-quality beef cattle” brand. In 2020, the Intellectual Property Office (Ministry of Science and Technology) granted trademark registration for this brand, with the Binh Dinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development as the owner.

The trademark is now assigned to the Gia Lai Sub-Department of Animal Health & Production as the legal holder. However, according to Dr. Phan Trong Ho, the brand must be transferred to an enterprise for it to unlock its full potential.

“If the high-quality beef cattle trademark is given to an enterprise, the business can build a production-consumption value chain. It can partner with high-quality beef farmers to form cooperative groups, organize purchasing, consumption, transfer technical knowledge, and even support farmers with capital, while the State supports management. Only then can the brand truly grow”, Dr. Ho shared.

After the administrative merger, the new Gia Lai province has an ample supply of high-quality beef cattle. At the same time, the province has a strong team of artificial insemination technicians, a decisive factor in the success of crossbreeding programs. Therefore, Gia Lai province authorities should consider developing a high-quality beef cattle value chain to ensure stable income for farmers and achieve sustainable cattle farming.

“If the new Gia Lai province does not continue previous programs, such as the cattle-crossbreeding program, the high-quality beef program, and the ‘Binh Dinh beef’ brand building, then the province’s high-quality beef cattle herd will inevitably decline sharply”, Dr. Phan Trong Ho warned.

*Currency exchange: USD 1 = VND 26.386 - Source: Vietcombank, November 18, 2025.