The meat of animals that are grazed is tastier than those that are fattened. Every villager knows this. Scientists say that animals consume 123 different types of plants on pasture. Kazakhstan, which ranks 5th in the world in terms of pasture land area, has great opportunities for the development of this area of livestock farming. One of the farmers who managed to use the potential of local pastures lives in the village of Aksogum, Terektinsky district of Western Kazakhstan. Sabit Azhkeev registered a peasant farm in 2013, which contains cattle, small livestock, and horses. However, to increase the scale of business, government support was required. “For those who live in the village and are engaged in agriculture, a tractor is the main equipment. Previously, I purchased equipment on lease. Last year I took out a preferential loan from the Agrarian Credit Corporation, bought 50 heads of horses, 50 cows. I applied to the corporation for the first time, cooperation turned out to be profitable. A grace period is provided for the payment of the principal debt - 2 years. We keep cattle for sale for meat, therefore, to increase the productivity of the local breed, we purchased a bull of the Kazakh white-headed breed," says the head of the peasant farm, Sabit Azhkeev. Winter in Western Kazakhstan is harsh; livestock are tied up for almost five months. And only horses graze on free grass. In addition to cattle, the farm also has sheep. The farmer collects one and a half thousand bales of hay per season from his hayfields. He buys grain from other farms. While the new cows have not calved, the first litter on the farm is expected next year. Next fall, the Azhkeev farm plans to supply fresh meat to local markets. There are no problems with the sale of products - local processing enterprises and markets are happy to purchase meat from livestock grazed on natural pastures.
