Contemporary cowboy raises cattle with beer and music

Li Yuan, 23-year-old retired veteran, manages a cattle farm on the Yangtianhu Alpine Prairie, in Chenzhou, Hunan province. [Photo/CFP]

Li Yuan, a post-90s retired army veteran, uses an unusual method to raise cattle. "The cattle can grow up quickly by drinking beer and listening to music. These methods can make a big difference", says Li Yuan, whose annual income can reach 6 million yuan (about $1 million).

Li Yuan's farm is located on the Yangtianhu Alpine Prairie with an altitude of 1,300 meters in Chenzhou city, Hunan province, which covers an area of 1,800 square meters. There are more than 300 cattle in this farm now. After his retirement from army in 2012, Li Yuan, who was 20-year-old at that time, threw himself into the cattle raising business. Initially, his plan did not receive a positive response from his family and friends, but he persisted and eventually succeeded.

Now Li Yuan manages the farm with his business partners, Yang Dong and Deng Jianlin. They imported two main varieties of cattle, South Hunan cattle and red angus cattle. In view of the landform, they took an ecological farming model with a fusion of captive breeding and free-range breeding. The innovative method of raising cattle with beer and music was learnt from a book by Li Yuan. These methods of cattle-raising are popular in Japan. Li implemented these methods on his farm and the results turned out to be remarkable. Every cattle can grow up to more than 500 kilograms within two years.

What's more, Li Yuan also established first cattle culture restaurant in local region, and the business is booming. "I will strive to build a marketing chain of the cattle's production, supplying, sales and product and creating my own brand, to lead villagers to wealth," said Li Yuan confidently when it comes to future's expectation.