February 16, 2012

A project amounting to VND353 billion (US$16.95 million) with an aim to boost beef output to around 11,500 tonnes by 2016 from 8,500 tonnes in 2010 will be conducted by Vietnam's capital city of Hanoi.

The five-year project will help local farmers to grow a new cow breed called F1 which is expected to give higher quality, safer beef to the domestic market.

The F1 is the result of crossbreeding between Belgian Blanc Bleu Belge cows (BBB) and Lai Sind cows, a combination of the local breed and the Red Sindhi breed.

Farmers participating in the project will contribute VND314 billion (US$15.08 million) and the remaining VND39 billion (US$1.87 million) will be funded by the state budget.

The project also aims to increase an annual income of cattle farmers to VND32 million (US$1,537) from VND17.5 million (US$841) currently.

Hanoi Livestock Breeding Company, Ltd will take responsibility for crossbreeding 60,000 BBB cows and 14,000 selected female Lai Sind cows to produce just under 30,000 F1 cows in seven suburban districts: Ba Vi, Chuong My, Soc Son, Gia Lam, Phuc Tho, Dan Phuong and Phu Xuyen.

The company will also be responsible for establishing three beef-raising centres following high-quality production standards in Ba Vi, Chuong My and Gia Lam districts, where conditions are right to accommodate a large number of Lai Sinds cows.

Ha Noi Livestock Breeding Company LTD already sent 40 cadres to Belgium for a week-long training, and they will assist technically over 7,000 local farming households.