Goat prices increase, Nghe An farmers have good profits

With the advantage of hilly terrain, easily reclaimed wasteland, and proactive local food sources, many households in Quynh Vinh commune (Hoang Mai town) have strongly developed the profession of raising meat goats and breeding goats. Mr. Ho Ba Chinh - a large-scale goat farmer in Quynh Vinh commune has rented more than 7 hectares of hilly land to grow corn, cassava, and elephant grass, and at the same time, built 9 closed barns to raise nearly 150 meat goats, breeding goats, and breeding goats.

Mr. Chinh shared that the selected goat breeds are high quality ones such as Bach Thao, Boer, and hybrid goats, raised semi-free range, fed entirely on home-grown food such as corn leaves, corn flowers, cassava tubers, and elephant grass.

“Thanks to being self-sufficient in food, the cost is low, the meat quality is good, and I don’t depend on the input market. I sell two batches a year, and after deducting expenses, I make a profit of about 200 million VND. In particular, at the beginning of this year, the price increased sharply, so customers placed orders continuously,” he said.

Currently, goat farming for meat is developing strongly in the western localities such as Nghia Dan, Thai Hoa Town, Tan Ky, Thanh Chuong. In Tay Hieu Commune (Thai Hoa Town), Mr. Nguyen Trong Hung is raising more than 100 goats for meat combined with grass growing and using the method of fermenting food from agricultural by-products.

“Goats fed silage are less susceptible to digestive diseases, absorb well, gain weight quickly, and reduce costs by 30% compared to fresh feeding. With the current price, goat farmers earn an average profit of about 2 - 3 million VND/goat sold after a litter of more than 4 months,” Mr. Hung shared his experience.

Raising goats on a large scale, up to 600 goats, at this time, the increase in meat goat prices has brought a significant profit to the family of Ms. Tran Thi Hien (Nghia Thai commune, Nam Dan district).

"Compared to 2 years ago, goat prices have nearly doubled. From 80,000-90,000 VND/kg to 130,000-150,000 VND/kg, grass-fed goats are up to 170,000 VND/kg. The increase in goat prices is partly due to the low cost of goats before, people have reduced their herds, so supply is limited. In addition, during the hot season, demand for goat meat increases sharply," said Ms. Hien.

The price of live goat meat in Nghe An has been increasing sharply since the beginning of 2025 until now, fluctuating around 150,000 VND/kg - an increase of about 50,000 to 70,000 VND compared to the same period last year.

In the market, the demand for goat meat has increased sharply not only in restaurants, but also in households. This demand is driven by seasonal factors: hot weather reduces the purchasing power of traditional meats such as pork and beef, while goat meat is cool, low in fat, suitable for healthy eating trends, especially during holidays, festivals and beach tourism seasons.

In addition, the establishment of collective certification brands for many farming areas such as "Nam Dan Goat", "Tan Ky Goat", "Quy Chau Mountain Goat", "Nghe An Goat" ... aims to standardize product quality, create prestige with consumers and open up development directions according to OCOP standards, regional specialty products.

Some localities have also experimented with farm models combined with tourism experiences, opening doors for students and tourists to visit barns, care processes, and increase product value. At the same time, encourage models that utilize by-products such as banana stems, brewer's dregs, corn stalks, and rice bran for silage as food, reduce investment costs, limit environmental pollution, and improve the quality of livestock. Along with that, strengthen technical training for household groups and cooperatives to standardize biosafety farming models, and increase the value of commercial meat goats.

However, in addition to positive signals from prices and consumption, experts advise people not to massively increase their herds during the "hot" market period. In fact, previous cycles have shown that goat prices have dropped sharply when farmers rushed to open herds but lacked output links, especially for small, fragmented farmers without consumption contracts.

To maintain long-term growth and development, the relevant authorities need to orient goat farmers towards sustainable commodity production: regional planning, herd control, breed standardization and clear brand building. Only when the market is operated on a scientific basis and with linkages, can goat farming truly become an economic pillar for tens of thousands of households in the semi-mountainous region.