Nghe An: Antler price skyrocketed by 5 million VND/kg, deer became the 'lucky god' of breeders

In recent years, deer farmers in Quynh Luu have been raising more deer because the weight of deer is twice as large as that of deer and their lifespan is longer. On the other hand, in addition to the need to use more deer antlers, many traders have ordered whole deer heads and antlers to dry as feng shui decorations. In Quynh Luu district, there are currently nearly 15,000 deer and deer, of which there are about 550 deer.

Mr. Van Duc Thanh's family in Hamlet 12, Quynh Tan Commune, Quynh Luu District is an experienced deer breeder in the area. Continuing the family tradition, Mr. Thanh always maintains about 100 deer of all kinds. Of which, 30 are deer for antlers, 50 are female deer for breeding, and 20 are 12-month-old breeding deer.

Every year, Mr. Thanh's facility harvests hundreds of tons of antlers, earning about 150 million VND in profit. In addition, Mr. Thanh also cooperates with deer breeders in the area to gather and purchase deer breeds to supply to deer breeders in the district and province with a quantity of 500 to 600 breeds.Mr. Thanh said:“This year, the price of deer has increased by 5 million VND/kg, so there is not enough quantity to supply, including antlers and baby deer. Families here are increasing their herds to have more income."

Besides raising deer, the trend of raising deer is increasing in Quynh Luu. Photo: Viet Hung.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hau's house in hamlet 12, Quynh Tan commune, Quynh Luu district also regularly maintains 40-50 deer. Since the beginning of 2019, realizing that the price of deer antlers has increased, along with the pressure from African swine fever, she boldly invested 20 million VND to build an additional barn with 10 compartments to increase the herd.“Currently, there are 70 deer in my barn, and recently, 20 more have been added. To have antlers to harvest for Tet, my family is currently growing 2 sao of elephant grass. In addition, we have to buy bananas, corn, and potatoes to provide enough nutrition for the deer to grow antlers to sell this Lunar New Year,” Ms. Loc excitedly shared.

Deer are wild animals that have been domesticated and raised en masse by the people of Quynh Luu district since the 1990s. At one point, the herd of deer in the district grew to more than 30,000.

However, there was a period when deer prices fell, causing farmers to suffer losses. Since 2005, deer have regained their value, the market has stabilized, and people have begun to re-raise their herds, which have developed strongly as they do today. According to the experience of households, deer are very easy to raise, and their food is easy to find, mainly elephant grass, leaves, vegetables, potatoes, corn, and banana trees. This type of livestock is also less susceptible to disease than pigs, buffalo, and cows.

In the spring from December to March of the lunar calendar when deer and elk are in the stage of growing antlers, each livestock household must plant a garden of elephant grass and at the same time reserve food sources to ensure nutrition for the antlers to develop to the required quality and weight.

Up to this point, the whole Quynh Luu district has over 15,000 deer, concentrated in the communes of Quynh Yen, Quynh Nghia, Quynh Tan, Quynh Thang, Tan Thang. The antler output is about 40 tons, the price of deer antlers is 5 - 6 million VND/kg, deer antlers are 13 - 14 million VND/kg, deer breeders in Quynh Luu earn tens of billions of VND each year.

Mr. Van Duc Thanh's household in the mountainous commune of Quynh Tan maintains raising hundreds of deer. Photo: Thuy Ho

In particular, in the past 2 years, the price of deer antlers has increased sharply from 9 million VND/kg to 14 million VND/kg, helping many households become rich. At the same time, the demand for breeding animals has increased sharply. Currently, in communes such as Quynh Tan, Quynh Nghia, Quynh Thang, deer breeding clubs have been established to exchange breeding techniques, help each other consume products and exchange and buy and sell breeding animals to supply to the market outside the province.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Thanh, a deer antler trader in Quynh Xuan ward (Hoang Mai town) affirmed: "Deer antlers in the mountainous region of Quynh Luu are of very high quality, favored by customers from other provinces, and the offspring in this area have high resistance. Customers have great confidence in the Quynh Luu deer brand."

Deer antlers - a specialty of Quynh Luu (Nghe An). Photo: TH

Mr. Dau Duc Nam - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quynh Luu district said: "In recent years, the number of deer in the district has increased by 10 - 15% per year. The value of deer and deer antlers has increased steadily, so the district has a policy to encourage households to continue to increase their herds. In the district's policy, if any household increases their herd by 20 new deer in 1 year, they will receive 5 million VND in support."

Both deer and elk are raised on the same diet. However, deer antlers cost from 5.5 to 6 million VND/kg, while deer antlers cost from 9 to 14 million VND/kg. The reason deer antlers cost more is because their nutritional value is higher, although the weight of deer antlers is lower than deer antlers. On average, each time deer antlers are cut, they weigh 2 to 2.5 kg/animal, while deer weigh from 0.8 to 1.2 kg/animal.