Page 545
Many people listened and felt that animal husbandry shouldn't go in that direction, because livestock raised that way have no dignity whatsoever.
Regardless, this visit still deeply moved everyone.
After visiting the cows that had undergone rumen fistula surgery, the staff took them to the canteen to taste beef from Renying Ranch.
Renying Ranch's Wagyu beef ranks among the best in the country.
The marbled beef that the ranch prepared for them today was freshly slaughtered this morning. It looked very fresh, with red and white marbling on the meat. The red parts were almost a tender pink, and overall it was quite glossy and tempting.
With a keen sense of Shi Wen, one can detect the unique milky aroma of Wagyu beef.
This is one of the characteristics of grain-fed beef; it is rich in ketones and has a strong milky flavor.
Grass-fed beef is sweeter and has a more fruity flavor.
Judging by the quality of the meat alone, the beef from Renying Ranch is quite high-end; it would be considered mid-to-high-end beef on the market.
The chefs at Renying Ranch brought out the roasted meat and distributed it to each visitor to taste.
Shi Wen also received a small plate. He tried a piece, and the freshly grilled beef was very tender with a strong milky flavor and a great texture.
He could tell that the cow hadn't been raised for very long.
The main advantage of young cattle is their tender meat, while their disadvantage is that they lack flavor, whereas older cattle are the opposite.
While visitors were tasting the food, staff explained that it was from grain-fed cattle that had been raised for thirteen months and had just reached market weight.
Staff members said that the cattle raised at Renying Ranch using modern scientific methods have advantages in terms of cost and time, and therefore command higher prices.
The price of beef from their live cattle can reach 70 yuan or more per kilogram, while the cost of feeding them is no more than 30 yuan. Over the course of a year, the profit is much higher than that of traditional cattle farming, and the risk is also lower.
Technology is indeed a productive force. After visiting the ranch and tasting the beef, most of the herders expressed interest in this farming model.
This farming model is so advanced; it requires less work, is less stressful, and brings in money quickly, completely outclassing traditional farming methods.
Many people stayed to inquire, hoping to take the advanced technology back with them.
Shi Wen sat beside him, neither going up to ask what was wrong nor showing any intention of leaving.
The person in charge came over, sat down next to Shi Wen, and asked, "Brother Shi, how did the project go today? Any suggestions?"
Shi Wen turned to look at the person in charge, paused for a moment, and smiled, "Great project. I have no suggestions; I'm still working on it myself."
The person in charge breathed a sigh of relief, "It's great that everyone is interested; our trip today wasn't a complete waste."
Shi Wen, "Having learned so much, how could this trip have been in vain? Your event this time was very well organized."
The person in charge smiled, both pleased and embarrassed.
After everyone finished eating and rested for a while, the staff of Renying Ranch took them to see the feed formulation and manure treatment.
As a large ranch, Renying Ranch has very standardized procedures, and even Shi Wen couldn't find any fault with them.
It wasn't until evening, when it was almost dark, that everyone reluctantly said goodbye to the staff of Renying Ranch and boarded the bus back home.
Most people go to the train station to catch their trains, Shi Wen gets off the train in the city and takes a taxi back to his hotel.
When he returned to the hotel, Yan Kexing was already back.
Upon seeing him, Yan Kexing observed his expression and said, "It seems you've had quite a haul today."
Shi Wen laughed, "You're incredibly insightful."
Yan Kexing up and poured him a glass of water. "Why do you look a little tired? What did you visit?"
Shi Wen of a herd of cows that underwent permanent rumen fistula surgery.
Yan Kexing understood why his expression had turned sour. "They've introduced this technology?"
"Yes, it's quite good." Shi Wen finished a glass of water and sighed softly. "This modern farming technology is truly crushing traditional farming, halving costs and doubling profits."
Yan Kexing took the cup from his hand. "The inevitability of industrialization."
Shi Wen, "I understand. The people at Renying Ranch are very nice; they were willing to let us visit and even offered specialized training programs. Actually, even if we didn't do it, if someone else did, others would suffer."
Unable to comfort him, Yan Kexing sat down next to him.
Shi Wen leaned her head against Yan Kexing: "I just feel that this is too cruel to animals. We eat them to survive, treat them kindly while they're alive, and end their lives painlessly when they die—that's a kind of exchange. But this is really—"
Shi Wen muttered, "That's a bit too greedy."
Shi Wen things that I don't know how to say.
This school of thought, in order to minimize costs and maximize profits, raises cattle in ways that completely contradict their normal physiological functions.
For example, despite their herbivorous physiological structure, they are fed large amounts of grain in order to accumulate fat, to the point that it is necessary to make a hole in their ribs to create a fistula, so that they can remove the food they cannot digest at any time and stuff various drugs into it.
Some herders don't want to treat their cattle this way, but others have made a lot of money doing it this way. If some herders who don't do it this way don't follow suit, their market will be squeezed, and ultimately their living space will be squeezed.
Was the cow at fault? Of course not.
Are the herders at fault? In most cases, no.
And the consumers? They're even less wrong; what's wrong with spending money?!
Such structural problems should not be borne by individuals or individual companies.
Shi Wen, standing next to Yan Kexing, "I've been thinking about what social responsibilities we, as livestock farmers in the new era, should shoulder, and in which direction should we go?"
Yan Kexing turned and kissed his forehead. "Have you thought of anything?"
Shi Wen, "I haven't thought it through completely. I was thinking today that maybe I should give up the idea of raising Wagyu cattle. I should give up grain feeding and raise grass-fed cattle exclusively, respecting their physiological needs."