Breaking the Shackles of Development: Sailalong Township's Innovative Livestock Farming Model

Strategic Insights -

In Sailalong Township, Tianzhu County, Gansu Province of China, a purely pastoral township has found a novel solution to the challenges of high supplementary feeding costs and limited arable land for forage. By implementing the "breeding within the district, planting outside the district" livestock farming model, the township has increased herders' income and improved the quality of the industry. This innovative approach has not only addressed the forage problem but also improved breeding levels through a supporting mechanism of scientific management, full coverage epidemic prevention, early warning control, and agricultural insurance.

Key Takeaways:

  • The "breeding within the district, planting outside the district" model has addressed the bottleneck of high supplementary feeding costs and limited arable land for forage in Sailalong Township.
  • The township has innovatively implemented this model, leveraging the exemplary role of village cadres, cooperatives, and family farms, to transfer over 3,500 mu (approximately 16 acres) of land for the cultivation of high-quality forage grasses.
  • The projected production of approximately 1,500 tons of hay will save 850,000 yuan in animal husbandry costs.
  • Ye Quanlai, Deputy Head of Sailalong Township, emphasizes the township's focus on cultivating and expanding distinctive industries that benefit the people.
  • Zhang Hunian, a villager of Tulugou Village, Sailalong Township, has successfully implemented the model, planting 50 acres of high-quality forage grass and raising more than 200 sheep, solving the forage difficulty and reducing breeding costs.
  • The township is on track to steadily increase the livestock population to 16,000 head and foster a virtuous interaction between ecological protection and industrial development.

Statistics:

  • Over 3,500 mu (approximately 16 acres) of land has been transferred in Dongping, Saishisi, Yongdengminle, and other townships for the cultivation of high-quality forage grasses.
  • The projected production of approximately 1,500 tons of hay will save 850,000 yuan in animal husbandry costs.
  • The township aims to steadily increase the livestock population to 16,000 head.

Sources:

  • Lanzhou News Release: Sailalong Township's Innovative Livestock Farming Model (Gansu Province Government website) https://www.gstianzhu.gov.cn/art/2025/8/24/art_3517_1503906.html