Shandong district boosts rural economy through cattle farming cooperatives

A cattle farm in Jinan's Fangxia subdistrict. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In Fangxia subdistrict — located in Laiwu district, Jinan, East China's Shandong province, cattle farmers who once struggled with poor sales numbers and low prices while operating independently have now found a pathway to prosperity through a cooperative model. This approach has transformed cattle farming into a pillar industry for local rural vitalization.

The change began with addressing the limitations of scattered individual farming. Previously, small-scale farmers in various villages faced weak bargaining power and constrained industry development. To change this situation, local Party organizations took the lead in establishing specialized cattle farming cooperatives to consolidate once-fragmented resources.

These cooperatives have integrated the entire process from production to sales by collectively introducing high-quality cattle breeds, organizing professional technical training, and directly negotiating with major buyers. Simultaneously, the area has actively encouraged departed talent to return to their hometowns to start businesses, injecting new energy and modern perspectives into the industry.

After achieving initial scale, Fangxia subdistrict has further pushed for industrial upgrading — shifting from simple breeding toward brand development and deep processing. By establishing standardized breeding bases and focusing on building the "Laifu Beef" brand along with developing products like beef jerky, they have significantly enhanced product added value and market competitiveness.

These measures have not only directly increased villagers' incomes but also established a sustainable industrial development model. By building a robust industrial foundation, the initiative has paved a solid path for lasting rural vitalization in the region. (Edited by Li Weiwei)