Raising specialties to serve the Tet market

(Baonghean.vn) - With just under a month to go until Lunar New Year 2017, livestock farmers in Nghe An are currently busy preparing 'special' livestock products to supply the Tet market.

As the first person to bring pheasants to raise and breed in Quynh Luu, currently in the farm of Mr. Vo Hong Tham in hamlet 4, Quynh Hoa commune, there are about 300 pheasants. Of these, about 250 will be sold this Tet holiday. Mr. Tham said that pheasants start to reproduce after 4-5 months (between February and August of the lunar calendar), each female bird lays 250 - 300 eggs/batch. Starting from the 7th lunar month, he chooses about 300 - 400 good breeds to raise and sell for meat during Tet.

Pheasant is a rather strange dish for customers, priced at 150-170 thousand VND/kg. In the photo: Mr. Vo Hong Tham's farm in hamlet 4, Quynh Hoa commune.

“Raising pheasants is healthier than raising chickens, less prone to disease, grows faster and is more profitable. In particular, pheasant meat is very delicious and can be used to make many attractive dishes,” Mr. Tham shared.

Commercial pheasants are currently priced from 150,000 to 170,000 VND/kg, during Tet, the price can increase to 200,000 to 250,000 VND/kg; especially if transported to the southern provinces, the price will be even higher. From raising pheasants for breeding and meat, his family earns 300 million VND per year.

Crispy fried pheasant meat with lemongrass and chili is very delicious and attractive.

Not only pheasants, Mr. Nguyen Cong Chi in block 13, Quynh Xuan ward (Hoang Mai town) invested in raising free-range Sao chickens to sell during Tet. Mr. Cong said that Sao chickens come from wild chickens and have the scientific name Bam busicola; through the domestication process, Sao chickens are raised at home.

This is a fairly new pet, becoming a specialty dish for customers, especially during traditional holidays and Tet.

Star chicken is a specialty dish that has been popular with customers in recent years.

Currently, there are about 200 guinea fowls in the garden for meat, the family is taking good care of them, and it is estimated that there will be 4 tons of chicken meat for sale during Tet. With the selling price of 120-140 thousand VND/kg, Mr. Cong's family will have an income of nearly 80 million VND.

Chickens.

Going up to the mountainous commune of Ngoc Son (Quynh Luu), we come to the largest mallard duck farming model in the western part of the district, owned by Mr. Bui Van Hung - who came from Cau Giat town to start a business here. It is known that in 2014, he developed a commercial mallard duck farming model with 2,000 ducks/year. Thanks to good care and natural raising conditions, the mallard flock grows quickly, is healthy and is favored by customers. When the ducks weigh about 1.5kg/duck, he sells them at an average price of 100,000/duck. From raising mallard ducks, he earns an additional income of nearly 200 million each year.

“Starting from the 8th lunar month, the family increased the flock to 600-700 ducks to sell during Tet. In addition to taking good care of the animals to help them grow quickly, the family contacted sources to sell the products. Currently, the number of ducks ready for sale has been registered,” said Mr. Hung.

Mr. Ho Chi Thang in Quynh Luong commune checks the weight to supplement food sources for the rabbits.

Wild duck is also a quite attractive dish for drinkers.

The entire Quynh Luu district currently has dozens of households raising 2,500 - 3,000 wild ducks/year; over 500 commercial rabbits; 400 guinea fowls; 450 pheasants; and over 1,000 French and American pigeons. These are "specialty" livestock that people are investing in developing. Due to the new and high-quality products, they are increasingly attracting the attention of customers during the Tet shopping season.

Viet Hung