Thanh Chuong: Developing a biosafety chicken farming model

(Baonghean) - The application of scientific and technical advances in animal husbandry, specifically the biosafety chicken farming model, has been and is partly resolving people's concerns. With a suitable location for developing chicken farming in the direction of farms and households, Thanh Chuong district has boldly applied the biosafety chicken farming model and has initially been effective.

Since September 2014, Dong Van commune has been one of 10 communes in Thanh Chuong district selected to implement the biosafety chicken farming model. There are 5 households participating in the biosafety chicken farming model with 3,500 breeding chickens, which are supported by the State with 30% of the cost of feed and veterinary medicine. Evaluating the initial results of the biosafety chicken farming model, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien - an agricultural officer of Dong Van commune said: "The households participating in the model have been trained in science and technology by the commune and district. Up to now, the chickens have been raised for 3 months, with an average weight of 1.5 kg, and the families have started to sell them."

Biosafety chicken farming in Thanh Linh commune (Thanh Chuong).

Raising chickens according to the biosafety model, chickens are fed with bran in the first month, and then fed with foods such as corn, rice, beans, and green vegetables. Chickens are one of the sensitive animals, so absolutely do not feed them moldy, fungal, or rotten food; farmers can use industrial food or take advantage of agricultural and industrial by-products, ensuring the following components: energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins.

For free-range chickens, the issue of minerals and vitamins is not as important as for caged chickens, because they will find their own needs according to their body. In addition, people can raise earthworms as a source of protein for chickens. Regarding feeding time, chickens must be allowed to eat freely throughout the raising process, leaving the lights on at night for the chickens to eat as much as possible.

One of the things that chicken farmers are advised to pay attention to is disease prevention and hygiene. During the raising process, it is necessary to ensure that the chickens "eat clean, live clean, and drink clean". The floor of the coop and the garden must always be dry and clean, and there must be no stagnant water in the garden. Commonly used bedding materials are rice husks and clean wood shavings, with a layer of 5-10cm thick, and are disinfected before use. Vaccination and control of chickens entering and exiting the area are strictly carried out to minimize the risk of disease outbreaks.

At Mr. Pham Viet Hanh's farm in Luan Hoa hamlet, Dong Van commune, nearly 1,000 chickens are raised in a free-range area around the garden. He shared: "To raise chickens with biological safety, everyone must apply science and technology. If it is not scientific, it will be a failure. We must ensure hygiene and cleanliness according to technical instructions."

Currently, the biosafety chicken farming model has been implemented in many communes in Thanh Chuong district. Mrs. Le Thi Lan's household in Thuong village, Thanh Linh commune is implementing a biosafety-based free-range chicken farming model. Her family has nearly 15 years of experience in raising chickens; currently, the family has more than 500 free-range chickens and Dong Tao chickens that have been raised for 3 months in the form of free-range chickens, each weighing over 1.5 kg; calculated at the garden price of 80,000 - 100,000 VND/kg, which is a significant source of income.

Since applying the biosafety model of raising livestock, the use of biological materials for bedding has partly ensured the hygiene of the barn as well as reduced labor for the family. Ms. Le Thi Lan shared: “By registering to participate in the biosafety chicken raising model, the family received medicine and learned about raising livestock in this form. Implementing this model, I found it effective, clean, less labor-intensive, and reduced disease.”

Raising chickens in a commercial manner means ensuring the quantity and quality of products. Applying scientific and technical advances to raising chickens has helped people feel secure in expanding production. It can be said that with the method of raising chickens in a biologically safe way, Thanh Chuong district farmers are getting closer to clean agriculture, gradually affirming the Thanh Chuong chicken brand in the market.

Vinh Thao