Kiwi farmer helping out in Vietnam

Kiwi Brent Wallace is used to exotic locations. He has spent 14 years working in the live export trade which has taken him to China and the Middle East. So helping to run a feedlot in Vietnam is just another day at the office.

Wallace is in the Ba Thuoc District which is "about 3 and a half hours' drive South West of Hanoi". Here he is advising local owners and staff with feed programmes, stock handling and cattle care with a focus on a daily target of weight gain per day.

"Generally over seeing that the basic stuff is done right and suggest any improvements that are needed."

Image 1 of 11: Photo / Brent Wallace

The stock is Brahman cattle from Western Australia. Brent says the "very smart, tough" breed does well in Vietnam's conditions. The farm currently has 3000 head of cattle with even more due from Western Australia soon.

The herd are made up of slaughter cows, bulls and steers which are all over 400kg and feeder bulls and steers ranging from 340 to 400kg. There are also heifers the farmers are planning to start a breeding programme with.

Wallace says the farm currently has nine sheds, with more will be built. At the moment they have facilities to hold about 5000 head of cattle.

Feed is a tad different to New Zealand, says Brent with cattle being fed a mixture of sugar cane and corn with "other stuff" mixed in for protein and nutrition.

The experience has been rewarding if a little bit frustrating at times as Brent has to rely on a translator to get his point across.

"It's a lot of talking and a lot of listening. Back and forward. You just don't plan to do too much in one day."

However the people are very friendly and the scenery is "awesome" so Wallace is not complaining.