Hanwoo farms in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, struggle as soaring feed costs lead to the disposal of 20 cows

Farms in Jwaun-ri, a Hanwoo village in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, are suffering due to soaring feed prices and plummeting cattle prices. According to footage from the KBS 'Documentary Three Days' broadcast on January 15, 2012, farms in the Hongcheon area have made their living by raising Hanwoo, but it appears they are taking a major hit to their management due to recent increases in raw material prices and the decline in cattle prices.

Soaring feed costs and difficulties in securing sufficient rice straw

Hanwoo farms are complaining about the burden of feed costs to raise cattle. The farmers in the video reported that the amount of rice straw one cow consumes in a year is considerable, and they must move busily from the autumn season to secure it. Especially given the characteristics of the Gangwon Province region where farmland is scarce, securing rice straw in advance is essential. A farm official mentioned the amount of rice straw five cows consume in a year and stated that the situation where raw material prices and feed prices are rising simultaneously is the biggest concern. The fact that consumer meat consumption is decreasing is also acting as a burden on the farms.

Disposal of cows due to plummeting cattle prices and feed cost burdens

The decline in cattle prices, in contrast to the rise in feed costs, is threatening the livelihoods of the farms. The farmer Won Yeong-sil, who appears in the video, said that as the feed cost consumed by one cow in a year rose to between 1 million won and 1.4 million won, she eventually could not hold out and had to sell 20 cows. The situation continues where it is difficult to cover feed costs even by selling produced calves. One farmer compared the prices of female calves in the past and present, expressing frustration at the reality where cattle prices have plummeted so much that they cannot even recover the feed costs, stating that after 30 years of livestock farming, they are in a situation where they will incur debt for the first time.

Elderly farmers obtaining fodder with A-frame carriers and the hardships of raising calves

Grandfather Go Jin-bok, who is called the 'A-frame carrier grandfather' in the village, climbs up and down the mountain behind the village every day even at an advanced age to personally obtain bedding and fodder to be used in the cattle sheds. The grandfather climbs the mountain four times a day carrying an A-frame load approaching 70kg, stating that he prefers to care for the cows by putting in his own effort rather than spending money. Meanwhile, there were farms that raised calves by putting clothes on them due to the cold weather. However, the unfortunate situation of farms that must put male calves, which are usually raised up to 30 months, into the market after only 6 months of age due to the burden of feed costs was also shown.