Hung Yen is a land rich in historical and cultural relics, alongside a world of culinary delights with many famous products such as longan, rice flour cakes, and Ban soy sauce… Dong Tao chicken is also a specialty that cannot be overlooked when mentioning this place. Dong Tao chicken, also known as "chicken offered to the king," originates from Dong Tao village, Khoai Chau district. Since ancient times, it has been considered a precious breed of chicken, used as an offering to the king and emperors during important holidays and festivals. Currently, this breed is being preserved to maintain its genetic resources.
Dong Tao chickens are a large breed, with a majestic appearance, a large body, red skin, and sturdy legs. They also have rough, scaly legs; the rooster's legs are large and covered in irregularly arranged scales, while the rest of the skin is rough, resembling the surface of a strawberry. Their four toes are spread apart, clearly separated, and their feet are thick and well-proportioned, allowing them to walk steadily.
Dong Tao hens also have a comb similar to that of the rooster, but it is only about one-third the size of the rooster's comb. The featherless skin areas on the chicken's body (both male and female) are red.
According to chicken farmers in Dong Tao commune, legend has it that every Tet (Lunar New Year), the chicken-raising villages in Hung Yen would select the most beautiful, largest, and tastiest chickens to offer to the emperors of Vietnam. Dong Tao chickens, with their large legs, were considered a symbol of strength and grandeur, representing authority – qualities that feudal emperors always sought in tribute items. Their tender, naturally sweet, fragrant, and nutritious meat was not only offered to the emperors but also became a sought-after dish among wealthy and aristocratic families of the time. Offering Dong Tao chickens to the emperors demonstrated respect, reverence, and a wish for good fortune and peace for the court and the nation.
In reality, Dong Tao chickens are now raised in many places, so finding a pair of Dong Tao chickens for Tet (Lunar New Year) is not difficult. However, finding a pair of beautiful, purebred Dong Tao chickens as a Tet delicacy is not easy. According to locals, Dong Tao chickens are divided into two types: commercial chickens and chickens for gifts. Commercial chickens cost only from 200,000 to 250,000 VND/kg, while chickens for gifts can cost from several million to tens of millions of VND per bird, depending on the chicken's appearance. Even with money, not everyone can buy purebred chickens because they are difficult to raise, difficult to care for, and limited in quantity. According to Dong Tao chicken breeders, the price of Dong Tao chickens depends not only on weight but also on many other factors such as legs, feather color, and wing shape.
As someone with many years of experience raising Dong Tao chickens, Mr. Nguyen Van Quan's family farm in Dong Kim village, Dong Tao commune, currently raises over 3,000 birds. Sharing his experience in raising Dong Tao chickens, Mr. Quan said: "To raise a beautiful Dong Tao chicken, breeders must put in a lot of effort and dedication. Even the selection of breeding stock is very meticulous; you must choose purebred, healthy parent chickens and use modern egg incubation techniques to produce high-quality chicks. Conditions regarding housing, feed, and disease prevention are also things that people pay special attention to when raising Dong Tao chickens. A beautiful Dong Tao chicken must possess the following characteristics: black feathers resembling the tongues of a clam, large, red legs with evenly arranged scales like carp scales, and no deformities." Adult Dong Tao chickens can weigh up to 6-7 kg for males and 4-5 kg for females. Chickens are considered mature after about 7-12 months of raising. The price of Dong Tao chickens is usually very high towards the end of the year, leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), but many connoisseurs only appreciate the legs and feet, not the other parts. Not everyone dares to spend tens of millions of dong to buy a whole chicken. Because the price of authentic Dong Tao chickens as a Tet delicacy is so expensive, only wealthy families can afford them, so many people choose to buy hybrid chickens. Although hybrid Dong Tao chickens may not have the same beautiful appearance, larger legs, or rougher scales as the "authentic" ones, their more reasonable price makes them popular among home cooks.
Mr. Le Quang Thang, Director of the Dong Tao Chicken Breeding and Trading Cooperative, said: "Most of the Dong Tao chickens sold for meat on the market are hybrids, and purebreds are rare. It takes almost two years to raise a purebred chicken from hatching to maturity. Purebred chickens are very difficult to raise. Out of a flock of dozens, maybe only one will succeed in raising a chicken with the right appearance and breed. Therefore, the selling price is very high due to scarcity."
Comrade Nguyen Thanh Quyet, Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Tao commune, said: To preserve the Dong Tao chicken brand, in September 2015, the Intellectual Property Office ( Ministry of Science and Technology ) granted a Certificate of Collective Trademark for Dong Tao chicken. This is the basis for this chicken breed to increasingly reach domestic and international markets.
Pham Dang
Source: https://baohungyen.vn/giu-gin-thuong-brand-ga-dong-tao-3178608.html
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