Raising deer for velvet antlers - a way to get rich for Vi Xuyen people

11:01, 05/03/2024

BHG - Compared to many other livestock, the initial investment in raising Sika deer is costly, but the economic efficiency that this livestock brings to farmers is quite high. In particular, the output of exploited products is sold out as soon as they are exploited. That is why more and more farmers in the province choose Sika deer as livestock to develop the economy and enrich their families.

According to the experience of households raising deer, deer rarely get sick but are used to living in the wild, so when raising them in captivity, they must follow the techniques and hygiene to ensure cleanliness in eating, drinking and sleeping areas. In return, this animal is very gluttonous, so it can take advantage of locally available food sources such as: leaves, milkweed, carrots, fruits of all kinds... On average, an adult deer eats about 5 - 7 kg of grass and by-products from crops per day. For deer that are in the reproductive period, giving velvet, it is necessary to supplement the amount of food rich in starch and fresh tubers and fruits. Male deer raised to 3 years old will start to give velvet, the amount of velvet harvested will gradually increase with their age, from about the 5th year to the 13th year onwards is the peak harvest time. According to calculations, each deer can be harvested for velvet for 10 - 15 years, even up to 25 years, bringing in revenue of 180 - 250 million VND/animal. Currently, households raising Sika deer in Vi Xuyen are selling velvet for 2.5 million VND/1 tael. Sika deer velvet is considered a valuable medicinal resource, favored by users, and easy to sell on the market.

Mr. Tran Van Thanh, Minh Thanh village, Trung Thanh commune (Vi Xuyen) is taking care of his family's deer herd.

As one of the leading families in Vi Xuyen district in raising Sika deer for velvet antlers, Mr. Tran Van Thanh's family in Minh Thanh village, Trung Thanh commune (Vi Xuyen) currently has over 60 Sika deer for economic development. Of which, 20 are for velvet antlers. From raising deer, his family also has a stable income of 500 to 600 million VND per year. Thanks to effective breeding, Mr. Thanh's family has actively supplied breeding animals and transferred techniques to farmers with the same interests.

Over time, he realized that this animal adapted well and brought high economic efficiency, so he decided to continue raising deer in the new land. Mr. Thanh added that currently, the price of deer antlers is about 8 million VND/kg, and deer antlers are about 2.5 million VND/100g. If he sells 40 deer and 10 deer each year, after deducting expenses, he will make a profit of more than 500 million VND. "Deer eat grass, trees, and agricultural by-products, so they almost do not cost money to buy food. In Trung Thanh commune, bananas and citrus trees are grown a lot. These are wild animals, so they are less susceptible to diseases compared to other livestock. Therefore, we are very confident in raising these animals in terms of care and output," Mr. Thanh shared.

Thanks to the economic efficiency, in recent years, the movement of raising sika deer for velvet antlers in the province has increasingly developed. In Vi Xuyen district alone, there are more than 30 households participating in raising sika deer with a total herd of nearly 500 animals. Basically, the techniques of caring for and exploiting velvet antlers of farmers still mainly rely on self-study. The establishment of new breeding associations and groups is just beginning to take shape. In this reality, the Provincial Union of Science and Technology Associations has coordinated with the Provincial Gardening Association and local authorities to conduct training and transfer scientific and technical advances in raising deer for velvet antlers to farmers in Vi Xuyen district.

It can be seen that the initial success of the Sika deer breeding model of some households will be the premise and motivation for farmers in the province to develop new livestock industries, helping to create jobs, increase income, and actively contribute to the economic development and poverty reduction of the locality.

Article and photos: Nguyen Yem

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