Lac Thuy chickens 'accompany' people in escaping poverty.

LAI CHAU - Households in Ta Leng commune (Lai Chau province) are experimenting with developing the Lac Thuy Hoa Binh chicken breed, earning tens of millions of dong in profit each month.

Pioneer determination

In recent years, Ta Leng commune, Tam Duong district (old) (Lai Chau province) is promoting the transformation of agricultural economic structure towards commodity production, gradually creating sustainable livelihoods for people. Besides familiar crop models, poultry farming has had many positive changes with the appearance of Lac Thuy Hoa Binh chicken breed. In which, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Son's family, in Xin Chai village, is one of the pioneers in developing this chicken breed in the commune.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Son pioneered the development of the Lac Thuy chicken breed in Hoa Binh province. Photo: Duc Binh.

Previously, Mr. Son's family mainly raised local chickens, but the efficiency was low, the raising time was long, the risk of disease was high, and it was difficult to replicate. After learning about the Lac Thuy chicken raising model in Hoa Binh province (now Phu Tho ), and being guided by agricultural extension officers, he was determined to change the direction of raising. In 2022, he invested in building a solid barn with an area of ​​nearly 200 m², divided into two separate areas, ensuring conditions of temperature, light and hygiene. Each area raised more than 1,000 chickens in a semi-free-range form, making the most of the available food sources in the family.

Lac Thuy chickens are very resistant to cold, suitable for the climate conditions of the Ta Leng highlands, where the lowest temperature can drop below 10 degrees Celsius, affected by many long cold spells. Usually, chickens will be raised after 4 to 5 months of raising before being sold, the chickens will reach a weight of 2.5 to 3 kg, sold on the market at a price of 250,000 to 300,000 VND/chicken. The economic efficiency is clear and superior to local chicken breeds, when the average price only reaches a maximum of 100,000 VND/chicken.

Mr. Son shared: "The climate here is not favorable for raising laying hens. Therefore, I import newly hatched chicks from farms, costing about 15,000 VND/chick, and brood them from one day old. The chickens develop well, have a high survival rate, and are less prone to disease."

Commune officials visited Mr. Son's chicken farm. Photo: Duc Binh.

From an initial experimental model, Mr. Son's family farm has now become a destination for many households in the commune who want to learn poultry farming techniques. The economic efficiency from each batch of chickens brings his family tens of millions of dong in additional income each month.

Spread the model

The success of Mr. Son's Lac Thuy chicken farming model quickly spread throughout the community. Several households in Xin Chai village boldly switched from the local chicken breed to the new breed.

Mr. Phan A Lu also boldly converted after learning directly from Mr. Son's family model. Previously, he raised old chicken breeds but often suffered losses due to diseases, many flocks grew slowly and were difficult to sell. After the conversation, he was determined to buy the breed and try to develop it at home.

“After more than two months of raising them, I see that the flock of chickens is developing well and has few diseases. Currently, the entire flock has been fully vaccinated, and we expect to sell them by the end of this year. My family also hopes to earn a good income from poultry farming,” Mr. Lu shared.

Mr. Lu also learned and developed according to Mr. Son's family's livestock farming model. Photo: Duc Binh.

In addition to Xin Chai village, many households in neighboring villages of Ta Leng commune have also come to learn and study the techniques of caring for, building barns and preventing diseases for chickens from Mr. Son's family. This natural spread is forming a concentrated area for raising Lac Thuy chickens in the commune, suitable for the economic conditions of the people in the highlands.

To develop the model sustainably, the Ta Leng commune authorities have proactively organized many propaganda sessions, technical training, instructions on how to brood chickens, plan vaccinations, clean barns and manage diseases. Veterinary staff are regularly present at the facility, directly supporting households in each important stage of the chicken flock.

Deputy Head of the Economic Department of Ta Leng Commune, Mr. Truong Dinh Trung, said: “From the time of buying the breed until selling, the chickens ensure a high survival rate and are almost disease-free. For each chicken sold, the farmer earns about 70 to 80 thousand VND. This is an encouraging profit and motivates people to continue expanding the scale.”

In fact, the Lac Thuy chicken breed not only brings high income but is also well-suited to the terrain and climate of the Ta Leng highlands. The chickens are less prone to disease, have good resistance, and utilize local feed sources, helping to reduce input costs and increase production efficiency. The meat is fragrant, firm, and has an attractive yellow skin, making the product easier to sell in the market.

Lac Thuy chicken breed has good resistance, especially in the cold weather of the highlands. Photo: Duc Binh.

Currently, traders from many areas of Lai Chau city (old) and Tam Duong district (old) have proactively come to buy, creating stable output for farmers. Some households are intending to join together to form Lac Thuy chicken farming cooperatives to expand the scale, at the same time improve product quality, aiming to build a separate brand for Ta Leng commune.

This model contributes to creating local jobs, helping many households generate additional income, gradually escape poverty, and stabilize their lives. Households that previously relied solely on farming have now boldly invested in livestock facilities, considering poultry farming as a long-term business venture.

Mr. Trung added that in the coming time, he will continue to support people to expand their livestock farming areas in a concentrated manner, build disease-free livestock farming areas, and connect consumption with clean agricultural product stores in and outside the province. At the same time, the commune aims to develop Ta Leng chicken products into OCOP products in the coming years, contributing to enhancing the value and reputation of the products in the market.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/ga-lac-thuy-dong-hanh-cung-dan-thoat-ngheo-d788524.html