Author Description

Beef cattle production is ranked as a very important sub-sector in the extremely harsh natural conditions characterising the northern uplands of Vietnam. Assessing the characteristics and appropriateness of beef cattle feeding systems, which are compared from the point of view of sustainability were conducted. Access to grazing land and its topography, the ethnicity of the communities, the relative importance of agricultural and forest production, and opportunities for off-farm employment were all factors influencing the cattle systems. Those using the "cut-and-carry" fodder system are practicing the most efficient husbandry style among the systems from both the social and economic aspects, except for lack of proper management and use of cattle manure. Thus, good prospects from cut-and-carry system are seen to improve conditions in the rural uplands in the future.