Young men in Thai Son La province raise and sell the cute, pink-cheeked bamboo rats for 800,000 VND/kg.

Duy's cages for raising pink-cheeked bamboo rats are built next to his house. Each small cage is enclosed by large ceramic tiles. Each cage is about 1 square meter in size. Inside each cage, the bamboo rats live silently like their own shadows.

A peach-cheeked guinea pig is worth as much as a hundred-pound pig.

Duy divides the cages into different sizes according to the age of each type of bamboo rat. Bamboo rats raised for meat are kept in larger cages, each containing 5 to 10 animals. Breeding bamboo rats are kept alone in their own cages. From just a few mother bamboo rats initially, Duy's farm now has nearly 200 bamboo rats of all sizes.

Mr. Cam Van Duy, from Ot Luong village, Chieng Co commune, Son La city, Son La province, has successfully raised pink-cheeked bamboo rats. Photo: Thuan Viet

According to Duy, he is currently raising a dozen female bamboo rats. The peach-cheeked bamboo rat (yellow-cheeked bamboo rat) is heavier than the large spotted bamboo rat in Vietnam. It has a large body, a big and long tail, and belongs to the rodent order, similar to rats. They are very docile, spending all day in their cages and preferring a quiet environment.

Bamboo rats breed well and are very good at caring for their young. Photo: Thi Men

This species of bamboo rat can be distinguished from others by its two pinkish or yellowish cheeks, and its rather plump appearance. They give birth 4 to 5 times a year, with each litter containing 3 to 10 offspring. The bamboo rat you're raising is the "peach-cheeked" variety. Compared to the common bamboo rat, the peach-cheeked variety reproduces more vigorously and weighs 2-3 times more when mature. The selling price of 1 kg of peach-cheeked bamboo rat is 800,000 VND. Selling a 5 kg adult bamboo rat is worth the equivalent of a 100 kg pig.

The pink-cheeked guinea pig is easy to raise and fetches a good price.

Duy has been raising bamboo rats for three years. Previously, he raised pigs, ducks, and chickens, but without much success. Since switching to bamboo rat farming, his family's income has gradually increased. "Selling a large bamboo rat weighing 5 to 6 kg is worth as much as a whole pig. Meanwhile, raising bamboo rats requires little expense. Their food consists only of bamboo, sugarcane, and cornmeal. I can source this food myself, so I don't have to spend money buying it," Duy said.

The peach-cheeked bamboo rat weighs two to three times more than the spotted bamboo rat. Photo: Thuan Viet.

According to Duy, bamboo rats are easy to raise, but the cages must be designed to be sturdy and secure. They should not allow too much light to enter, be well-ventilated, and spacious. The walls should be nearly 2 meters high and built with bricks and cement. Several fans should be installed inside the cages to cool them down on hot days.

The roof is made of corrugated iron, spaced about 1 meter from the walls, to allow for ventilation. Another important point is to keep the enclosure cool and dimly lit. Too much light will cause the guinea pigs' fur to turn yellow and make them susceptible to disease. During winter, sufficient light is needed to kill pathogens.

The peach-cheeked bamboo rat is easy to raise, and its food sources are readily available, such as bamboo, sugarcane, and cornmeal. Photo: Thuan Viet.

The enclosure for raising bamboo rats must be cool, well-ventilated, and have a roof covering the entire enclosure. The ideal temperature is between 22 and 25 degrees Celsius. Bamboo rats cannot tolerate heat, so if raising them in such an environment, additional cooling fans, heat dissipation screens, corrugated iron roofing, and plenty of greenery should be installed outside.

Duy's guinea pig herd is thriving and providing a steady income. Photo: Thuan Viet.

Currently, Duy is gradually expanding his bamboo rat farm to a scale of 40-50 breeding bamboo rats. "Bamboo rats are easy to raise, easy to care for, and provide quick income. They are suitable for the scale of households in mountainous areas. Many people come to visit and learn about bamboo rat farming, and I wholeheartedly guide them," Duy said.

Source: https://danviet.vn/nuoi-loai-dui-co-doi-ma-hong-hong-xinh-xinh-chang-trai-nguoi-thai-o-son-la-ban-nhe-nhang-800000-dong-kg-van-dat-hang-20240526160244355.htm