In the bustling cattle barns of Doudian Hengsheng Livestock Breeding Center, one of Beijing's largest and most technologically advanced beef cattle farms, rows of robust black Angus and golden-red Limousin cattle leisurely munch on feed.

Located in Beijing's Fangshan district, Doudian town has long been a hub for cattle farming. Today, its premium beef — an essential product for Beijing consumers during the Spring Festival — is not just a local delicacy but a symbol of how technology is revolutionizing agriculture and husbandry.

Smart farming: from 'cow ID' to data-driven ranching

Every morning at 7 a.m., upbeat music fills Hengsheng's barns as studies suggest that harmonious melodies reduce stress, improve digestion, and enhance meat quality.

Besides the "music therapy," each cow there wears an "intelligent ear tag," a digital identifier that tracks its birthdate, lineage, weight and health history. Around their necks, motion-sensing collars — akin to human fitness trackers — monitor their daily activity levels to ensure they meet the step counts required to stay healthy. Overhead, a network of sensors measures real-time environmental data, from humidity to harmful gas levels, transmitting the information to cloud-based systems for analysis.

With digital, intelligent technologies, a team of just over a dozen workers can manage 4,000 cattle efficiently.

The company collaborates with China Agricultural University (CAU), tapping into their academic expertise for breed optimization, according to Wu Lianfang, general manager of Hengsheng Livestock. Wu said the ranch serves as a CAU postgraduate research base, where Ph.D. candidates tackle real-world challenges alongside farmers.

Circular economy: where microbes meet cattle

In Doudian, sustainability is more than a buzzword — it's a closed-loop system.

Cattle manure, once an environmental burden, is now processed using microbial technology developed with Beijing Aerospace Hengfeng Technology Co., Ltd. The result is the "Hengsheng Cattle," a new type of microbial agent that can be absorbed more than twice as effective as conventional nitrogen alternatives, enriching local crops while reducing pollution.

"Many experiments in the cattle industry are related to microorganisms," said Li Xiaodong, a manager at Hengsheng Livestock, explaining that after the harmless microbial treatment, the cattle manure can be utilized for energy and fertilizer, thus developing a circular economy.

Doudian's cattle industry now spans agriculture, animal husbandry, commerce and tourism. The town supplies high-end beef to markets across Beijing, including the iconic Niujie and Changyang areas. An entertainment and dining complex invites visitors to savor locally sourced steaks while learning about modern farming.

"Our cattle industry isn't just about jobs; it's about creating shared value through innovation," said Wang Qi, deputy chief of Doudian.

According to Wang, the town's total income and per capita net income increased by four percent and 7.1 percent in 2024 respectively.