Deer farming locks in to Ha Tinh Province

The word “antler” means “loc” in Vietnamese, with another meaning of “loc” being good money, and for farmers in central Ha Tinh Province this has proven true.

Thousands of farmers in Huong Son District, central Ha Tinh Province, has chosen deer farming as a key to escape poverty and improve their lives, said Nguyen Khac Khanh, head of the province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Animal Husbandry Division.

At present, the district has 21,000 deer – the country’s largest deer population, representing an average year-by-year increase of 13 per cent, Khanh says.

A household with 5-7 deer annually earns VND20-50 million ( US$1,000-2,500).

The district possesses an ideal environment for raising deer with mountainous terrain and a variety of foliage for feed, Khanh said.

“Raising deer is simpler than other livestock rearing because deer mainly eat leaves or grass, are more disease-resistant and increased demand for antlers for traditional medicine and breeds. Now local farmers can easily access subsidised loans to raise deer and grow plants for deer feed,” said Khanh.

Vo Tri, one of the first people who raised deer 40 years ago in Son Thuy Commune said that in 1960s, few households raised deer because of their high cost (a three-month female deer is worth about VND50-60 million).

He added previously, people had hunted or trapped deer but they did not know how to raise and tame the deer, this resulted in a high rate of mortality among the stock.

However, Tri has kept accumulating experience to improve breeding conditions. For example, according to Tri, deer sheds must be clean, high and dry and positioned in quiet areas with new leaves, shoots and flower buds.

Doan Dang in Son Thuy Commune said that few decades ago, only rich households could raise deer but in 1990s, deer prices went down, giving Dang a chance to expand his herd.

He now earns about VND30-40 million ($1,500-2,000) each year thanks to his ten spotted deer, equal to the profit from raising 5 adult female pigs a year.

Pham The Vinh, a deer farmer in Son Binh Commune had harvested antler from two of his six spotted deer this year, earning over VND10 million ($500), three times last year’s profit.

In recent years, farmers from other provinces including Nghe An, Dong Nai, Quang Ngai, Bac Ninh and Bac Giang have come and leant about Huong Son’s deer farming and then bought animals to raise in their own localities.

“Last year, spotted deer and antlers from Huong Son District were granted trademark certification by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s National Office of Intellectual Property of Viet Nam. This helps to manage, develop and promote the resource as well as ensure consumer confidence,” said Phan Xuan Yen, head of the district department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Nguyen Duy Trinh, chairman of the district People’s Committee, confirmed that the district would make efforts with scientists to preserve and select the most valuable genetic sources.

A male spotted deer produces 300-500 grammes of antler each year and the antler is harvested only at late spring when the animal is about 45-48 days old. A female deer gives birth to one fawn a year, costing about VND10 million ($500). This year, each kilo of deer antler is valued at VND11-12 million ($550-600), 20-25 percent higher than that of previous years.

Tags: Deer farming, Vietnam agriculture