Final part: Ensuring sustainability in farming and product "output" is crucial.
Currently, deer farming in Quynh Nghia in particular and Quynh Luu in general is facing many obstacles; especially the perception that, in the livestock industry, the total number of buffalo and cattle in the entire district is approximately equal to the number of deer (17,000/15,000), but buffalo and cattle farming receives many "preferential treatments"; such as compensation policies if disease outbreaks occur and animals are culled, veterinary services to care for buffalo and cattle, and above all, the strategy for developing the buffalo and cattle herd is planned through congresses and resolutions.
In terms of economic efficiency, deer farming is no less profitable than any other livestock; however, deer farmers receive no government support or policies and must fend for themselves. At the end of 2010, a deer disease outbreak killed thousands of deer, and the communes requested support from the district, but have yet to receive a response. Furthermore, the economic development strategies from the district to the commune level do not include any provisions for deer farming, even though deer have become a primary livestock species in some communes. Many have questioned whether deer farming is truly considered a legitimate livestock industry.
Currently, the forestry sector and scientists still disagree on whether deer are wild or domesticated animals. The forestry sector considers deer to be wild, therefore every transaction requires a certificate of origin from the forest rangers. Scientists from the Institute of Animal Husbandry, however, argue that deer are domesticated animals, even though, according to their nature as animals without gallbladders, they will never become accustomed to human scent.
Could it be that these regulations are the reason why local authorities are hesitant to include them in resolutions to create a development strategy? Without a development strategy, there are no industry orientations. Deer farmers are left to fend for themselves to maintain their livelihoods. The total deer antler production in the district is currently estimated at around 4 tons, but prices are determined by local middlemen. When there are buyers, they purchase; when there aren't, they drive prices down. Deer farmers cannot determine the value of their product.
Preserving deer antlers at the household of Mr. Nguyen Van Ke.
(Hamlet 7, Quynh Yen, Quynh Luu)
According to local people, in the 1980s, deer farmers didn't have to worry about sales; whatever they produced was bought up by the district's pharmaceutical company. The deer antler wine produced by Quynh Luu Pharmaceutical Company had a good reputation in the market both within and outside the province. The same company even took the product to South Korea for marketing. Having experienced the ups and downs of deer farming, farmers are now nostalgic for the old days when they were no longer exploited by middlemen.
Mr. Vu Ngoc Quy, the district's livestock officer, said: "Recently, with the restoration of deer farming, several domestic and international organizations have shown interest in finding markets for Quynh Luu deer."
In 2008, a deer conservation program in Quynh Luu, organized by the French Embassy through the Institute of Animal Husbandry, surveyed and registered over 2000 deer in the communes of Quynh Tan, Quynh Nghia, Quynh Bang, and Quynh Luong, aiming to conserve and research deer for meat production. However, after the registration, the program was forgotten. Later, a South Korean organization came to research and collaborate on antler velvet production, but due to quality issues and unsuitable breeding practices, they withdrew.
Most recently, businessman Truong Dac Minh, a successful native of Quynh Nghia living in the capital, returned to his hometown to organize training on deer farming for the local people and requested 50 hectares of land from the commune to establish a deer farm for breeding and processing antlers. The commune agreed, but the project has yet to be implemented.
To date, the market for deer in Quynh Luu remains entirely dependent on private traders. Deer farming is a potential livestock sector and a strength of the district. For deer farming in Quynh Luu to develop sustainably, it is time for all levels of government to actively get involved; first and foremost, they must correctly recognize the value and development direction of the industry, and then develop appropriate policies to promote its growth.
Cong Sang
