A commune in Nghe An has high income from deer farming.

Dien Hung farmers are investing in expanding deer farming. Photo: Mai Giang

Visit the barndeer farmingof Mr. Tran Quang Huan's family in Hung Nghia village, Dien Hung commune, right when the family was harvesting antlers, Mr. Huan excitedly said: For just a pair of antlers weighing more than 3.3kg of a deer, the trader paid on the spot 65 million VND. For the past 4 years, this deer has brought the family about 100 million VND from cutting the antlers twice a year.

With a total herd of 20 deer, on average each year, Mr. Huan earns 500 million VND from raising deer for antlers and selling breeding animals. After deducting expenses, he still has a profit of 400 million VND/year.

Mr. Huan shared: My parents have raised deer for 30 years. Although we have gone through ups and downs, our family has not given up the profession. Caring for and feeding deer is simple, but to successfully raise deer, choosing the right breed is very important.

Mr. Tran Quang Huan has had a high income from raising deer for several years now. Photo: Mai Giang

Previously, Mr. Nguyen Duy Tan in Ngoc My village raised dozens of cows and pigs but the economic efficiency was not high. In 2019, he started to raise deer. He found it easy to raise, safe, and had a stable output, so at first he only had 6 deer. Now he has a herd of 30 deer, of which deer are for sale.deer antlers20 deer, female deer give birth to 10 fawns. On average, each year his family harvests 25 - 30 kg of antlers and sells 10 breeding deer.

Mr. Nguyen Duy Tan said: Deer are easy to raise, easy to find food, easy to grow such as elephant grass, leaves, potato leaves, young corn leaves and stems, bananas... Raising deer really brings higher economic efficiency than other livestock. On average, each year deer brings in 15 million VND/animal; deer breeding brings in 20 million VND/animal. After deducting expenses, the family still has an income of about 350 million VND/year.

Deer are easy to care for pets, and each year produce valuable antlers. Photo: Mai Giang

It is known that from only a few households raising deer, Dien Hung commune now has the largest deer herd in Dien Chau district: nearly 1,600 deer raised by 140 households.

With the results, Dien Hung commune has identified and selected deer as a key livestock in the local agriculture today. Mr. Tran Thong - Chairman of the Commune People's Committee said: Raising deer for antlers has become the main occupation of hundreds of households in the commune. Income from the livestock industry in the first 6 months of Dien Hung was 18 billion VND, of which deer farming accounted for 13 billion VND. Along with increasing the total herd, the commune mobilized farmers to establish a deer farming association, aiming to develop the local deer farming industry more sustainably.

A pair of deer antlers weighing more than 3.3kg of Mr. Tran Quang Huan was purchased by a trader for 65 million VND. Photo: Mai Giang

"Through the implementation, more than 140 households have registered to join the deer farming association. This year we will register the local OCOP deer antler product. This is a new direction in transforming the crop and livestock structure, creating livelihoods and increasing income for farmers," said Mr. Tran Thong.