20 people, 10,000 cattle: How technology is transforming a modern farm

In the heart of the Horqin Grassland in Tongliao, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Kerchin Cattle Industry Co., Ltd.'s 3,000-mu (200 hectares) Huatugula Industrial Park is redefining cattle farming.

The park's smart cattle farm contains 21 barns, 16 silage pits and four hay sheds, it can accommodate up to 10,000 fattening cattle at a time.

In 2024, the farm underwent a comprehensive upgrade with the Internet of Things (IoT) and AI technologies, creating an intelligent management system covering the entire industry chain, with a cloud platform for livestock management and a big data command center. It has become one of China's leading digital mega-feedlots.

Sensors continuously monitor temperature, humidity, ammonia levels and lighting around the clock. Each head of cattle is fitted with two ultra-high frequency electronic ear tags, creating a complete digital record. Smart scales track weight, while the integrated total mixed ration (TMR) and central kitchen system delivers precise feeding instructions from the control platform.

Today, this 10,000-head feedlot operates with fewer than 20 staff members, reducing labor and equipment costs and improving feed efficiency.

From managing cattle by hand to managing them with data, the farm shows how technology is transforming traditional cattle farming and breathing new life into the grasslands.