Modern technology helps boost livestock farming in Inner Mongolia

By a household pastures management system app, herders can access livestock quantity, achieve real-time tracking of livestock's health condition and, get timely and accurate information about the movement of livestock. All these functions have not only improved labor efficiency but also reduced labor costs while ensuring the science-based growth of herds and increasing breeding benefit.

"There are over 100 cattle and 500 sheep in my pasture. Smart farming has delivered tangible benefits to my family, with an annual income of over 500,000 yuan ($69,588)", said Jiya.

"I've been running the pasture since 2015. Now I have over 200 sheep and nearly 180 cattle. In 2019, after gaining internet access, I began to purchase some smart equipment online. With the support from the China Internet Development Foundation (CIDF) last year, my pasture was equipped with smart devices, which has made it convenient to manage the livestock. Even when I'm away from home, I can achieve dynamic tracking of the livestock", said Gao Heping, a model herder with a digital sheep barn in Angsu Gacha, Otog Front Banner, Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

According to Gao, previously, with the help of hired labor and his own efforts, he could manage a maximum of just over 100 cattle. Now, with smart devices, this figure has doubled. This year, he has only hired one worker, and they're getting the job done.

"Thanks to the support provided by China Internet Development Foundation (CIDF), my pasture has greatly improved. I hope smart farming will become a common practice. And I believe that, under the megatrend of smart farming, having 500 cattle in the next 3 to 5 years is a piece of cake", said Gao.

Smart pasture building project in Angsu Gacha, Otog Front Banner is one of 10 digital rural initiatives supported by China Internet Development Foundation (CIDF). Focusing on the abundant legacy of the livestock industry in this region, and catering to the demand of a new era, this project seeks to transform traditional livestock management processes and models by IoT, big data and artificial intelligence. This initiative not only enhances resource utilization and breeding efficiency but also helps increase locals' income, thus contributing to the realization of rural revitalization.