Nghe An farmers burn fires day and night to take care of their "billion-dollar animals"

The deer herd in Quynh Luu district is up to more than 14,000. This is called the "billion-dollar animal" of farmers. After each antlers-cutting season, deer breeders in Quynh Luu district earn tens of billions of dong. Therefore, people pay special attention to taking care of deer in the cold season, "people can be cold but don't let deer be cold".

Quynh Nghia Commune (Quynh Luu) is one of the localities with the largest deer herd in Nghe An province. This animal is quite "fickle" with the weather, unable to withstand the cold. Therefore, on days when the temperature drops, people have to use firewood and make fires to keep warm all day and night.

Deer antlers have great economic value. In winter, if the barn area is not heated, the antlers will atrophy. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. Tran Thanh Binh’s family in Hamlet 4, Quynh Nghia Commune is currently raising 12 deer for their antlers. Mr. Binh said that in addition to covering the pens, he also uses large firewood to burn to warm the deer. If the deer get cold, their antlers will shrink and not reach their weight, so their value will be low.

Mr. Binh said that in winter, in addition to covering the barn, he also has to light a fire to warm the deer. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. To Duy Hien - Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Nghia Commune said: Currently, there are over 400 households raising deer in the commune, with about more than 1,500 deer. In winter, people have to cover their barns and often light fires to keep the deer warm, so that the deer can grow well and the pair of deer antlers ensures quality and weight.

This is the "golden time" for deer to grow antlers, waiting for the antlers to be cut after January. In addition to keeping warm day and night, to take care of deer in the cold days, people also have to increase food sources, ensuring clean, nutritious food so that the deer do not get sick and the antlers do not shrink.

In addition to raising deer, Quynh Luu people also invest in raising dairy cows effectively. The district has a total herd of more than 400 cows. During the cold days, people have to take extra care of their dairy cows by covering them, increasing their food, and lighting fires to keep warm.

On cold days, people light fires to keep their dairy cows warm. Photo: Quang An