Veteran Le Xuan Diem builds a multi-billion VND goat farm from scratch

After leaving the military in 1984, veteran Le Xuan Diem, a resident of Tho Loc hamlet, Xuan Loc commune, Dong Nai province, moved south with his family to start a new life with nothing but empty hands. The early years were marked by hardship, and he had to take on various jobs to make a living. In 1990, after much reflection, he made the bold decision to start a goat farming business, a turning point that transformed his life and the lives of his family members.

In addition to improving his own family's livelihood, veteran Le Xuan Diem has been actively supporting his fellow veterans. His farm has become a familiar destination for local veterans and community chapters across the commune to visit, observe, and learn from his experience.

From hardship to prosperity through goat farming

Beginning with just 10 goats, Diem raised them while gradually gaining experience in animal husbandry. Over more than three decades of dedication, he has built a farm with a herd of more than 1,000 goats. There were periods when goat prices dropped for an extended time, prompting many farmers to abandon the trade. Yet, Diem remained committed. By making use of natural feed sources and relying on his own labor to offset costs, he gradually developed a stable and productive herd.

Only in the past five years did he shift toward industrial-style farming, feeding the goats with formulated feed. Recently, he sold 300 goats for 170,000 VND per kilogram, earning a profit of about 2 million VND per goat after deducting expenses. Currently, his farm has more than 700 goats, with monthly operating costs of around 100 million VND. In 2024 alone, his model generated revenue in the billions of VND.

Sharing his journey of overcoming hardship, Diem reflected: "Livestock farming comes with its challenges, especially when you're short on capital and unable to invest properly. The goats are more susceptible to illness and death. But once I had the means to provide proper care, with sufficient feed and adequate veterinary treatment, the herd became healthier, grew faster, and delivered much better returns."

Veteran Le Xuan Diem provides his experience to a reporter. Photo: Dang Hung

To reach his goals, Diem invested in well-ventilated, elevated wooden barns to provide a suitable environment for the goats. To cut feeding costs, he set aside 0.4 hectares of land to grow grass and corn as supplementary feed, along with industrial feed. He also studied veterinary science to better care for his herd. Thanks to this scientific approach to animal husbandry, Diem has maintained a large-scale operation with consistently stable output, mainly supplying meat goats to provinces in Central Vietnam, key to ensuring long-term revenue for his farm.

The goat farm is built on an elevated wooden platform. Photo: Dang Hung

Dedicated to helping fellow veterans succeed economically

In recent years, the Veterans' Association of Xuan Loc commune has actively promoted mutual assistance programs to support members' economic development, including providing livestock, sharing farming techniques, pooling capital, and establishing preferential loan funds for those in need. Among its most active members is Diem, who has shown an unwavering willingness to help his fellow veterans. He contributes capital to the association's internal lending fund to assist disadvantaged members in starting or expanding their businesses. He also participates in a wide range of veteran-related activities at all levels. He is always eager to share his goat-farming knowledge with other veterans and residents.

Nguyen Xuan Dinh, Chairman of the Xuan Loc Commune Veterans' Association, commented: "Successful economic models like Diem's goat farm not only help stabilize his family's livelihood but also serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration for other members to follow. His story exemplifies the spirit of solidarity, generosity, and dedication to community development that defines the veterans of Xuan Loc."

Members of the Xuan Loc Commune Veterans’ Association visiting Le Xuan Diem's goat farm. Photo: Dang Hung

From a soldier returning to civilian life in the face of hardship, Le Xuan Diem has, through resilience and a deep sense of camaraderie, risen to achieve legitimate prosperity while helping fellow veterans improve their livelihoods. His story not only exemplifies the spirit of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" in peacetime but also contributes to building a more prosperous, modern, and dignified Xuan Loc.

By: Le Thuy - Dang Hung

Translated by: Hong Van - Minho