Landlord in the Arctic

Chapter 297 - 247: Cattle and Sheep

Feng Mountain looked up. Giant heating lamps hung high from the barn’s ceiling, like little suns releasing a constant stream of heat.

Inside the pens, sturdy-looking cattle stood or lay about. Some were leisurely chewing their feed, while others seemed to be resting with their eyes closed.

Under the lights, their coats had a glossy sheen, a clear sign that they were living quite comfortably in the barn.

"Mr. Feng, here at Horned Ranch, we currently raise three breeds of cattle: Angus, Hereford, and Simmental."

As he spoke, Tucson walked over to a pen and stopped. He pointed inside, where seven or eight black, hornless cattle were quietly eating their feed. "These are Angus cattle, one of the finest beef cattle breeds in the world and the main breed at Horned Ranch."

"Angus beef is tender and juicy with even marbling, so it’s very popular on the market. They’re a medium-sized breed. Bulls can reach 700 to 1,000 kilograms, while cows weigh 500 to 600 kilograms. They grow quickly and are highly cold-resistant, able to adapt to Alaska’s cold climate."

’So these are Angus cattle!’

The roasted prime rib and brisket he’d eaten at the restaurant yesterday, the waiter had said, came from Angus cattle.

It was thirty US dollars a pound.

’A single one of these massive animals is like walking US dollars.’

Feng Mountain studied the Angus cattle in the pen. If he introduced this breed to the Crown Territory, not only would it solve the camp’s meat supply issues, but he might also earn a considerable income by selling the beef.

After that, Tucson led the group to the next pen.

Inside was a herd of large, red-and-white cattle. They were noticeably a size smaller than the Angus, with a more compact build.

This breed also seemed much more docile. As soon as Tucson approached the fence, the herd showed no signs of panic or fear. Instead, they ambled over as if greeting a familiar face, and a few even stretched out their necks to gently sniff the hem of his clothes.

Seeing this, Tucson smiled and lightly patted one of the cow’s heads before turning to Feng Mountain and the others to explain.

"These are Hereford Beef Cattle. They have a gentle temperament and are easy to manage. They’re an early-maturing breed, and their meat quality is also excellent. The texture is great, making them very popular with consumers."

"Plus, they adapt well to the environment and are fully capable of surviving the harsh natural conditions in Alaska."

After introducing the Hereford, Tucson led them down the corridor to the very back of the heated barn.

In the pen there was a herd of even more robust, spotted cattle. Their patterned coats were intricate and stood out sharply under the lights.

"This is Horned Farm’s last breed, the Simmental Beef Cattle. This is a dual-purpose breed, used for both milk and meat. At farms in Alaska, it’s primarily raised for beef production. It grows fast, has a high meat yield, and fattened bulls can have a dressing percentage of around 65%."

Tucson paused for a moment before continuing his introduction.

"At the same time, they are also quite adaptable and fairly cold-resistant. Furthermore, they have good maternal instincts and high reproductive performance, providing a stable source of new calves for the farm’s beef operation."

After introducing all three breeds, Tucson summarized.

"Basically, most ranches in Alaska raise these three breeds of beef cattle. Each year, the livestock association helps formulate breeding plans based on market feedback and adjusts the number of cattle raised to ensure they can better meet the needs of the market and their own development."

"If I were to raise them in the Far North Tundra, which breed of beef cattle would be more suitable?" Feng Mountain had been mulling this question over while looking at the three breeds, and now he humbly posed it to Tucson.

’The Far North Tundra?’

’Raising beef cattle?’

’Buddy, were you sent by Santa Claus to pull my leg?’

’That godforsaken place, the Far North Tundra? In a climate dozens of degrees below zero, you want to get into livestock farming?’

’A pipe dream.’

If it weren’t for Jeff standing right there with them, Tucson would have thought Feng Mountain was drunk on bootleg liquor.

But Tucson was experienced, after all. After a moment of thought, he answered tactfully.

"Mr. Feng, if you plan on raising livestock in the Far North Region, I would recommend an indoor farming model, similar to a factory farm. This would allow for more precise control. You could create a suitable growing environment for the cattle with temperature control, ventilation, and lighting systems."

"However, building such a farm would require a very large investment. In addition to the infrastructure, given the environment in the Far North Region, you would also need to purchase massive quantities of feed to meet the nutritional needs of the livestock at different stages of growth."

"This kind of investment would be in the hundreds of millions, at a minimum, with no guarantee of paying off, so..."

Although Tucson didn’t say the rest out loud, everyone present understood his underlying meaning.

He was essentially saying that starting a livestock operation in the Far North Tundra was too risky, too expensive, and had a minimal chance of success. It was a thoroughly unprofitable venture.

But Feng Mountain acted as if he hadn’t understood the deeper meaning behind Tucson’s words. He just smiled, waved his hand dismissively, and asked again, "So, which breed of beef cattle is the most suitable?"

Someone nearby couldn’t help but curse inwardly.

’Is this guy crazy?’

’Tucson made it so clear, and he’s still hung up on which breed is more suitable.’

’Investing hundreds of millions to raise cattle in that godforsaken part of the Far North Tundra is a complete and utter waste of money.’

Seeing Feng Mountain’s persistence, Tucson shook his head helplessly and had no choice but to continue.

"In terms of beef quality, the top recommendation is definitely Angus. With its delicious flavor and distinct marbling, it’s the aristocrat of beef cattle. The only drawback is that Angus cattle grow slowly; they take about 30 months to be ready for market."