Top 10 Most Unique Livestock Farming Models in Vietnam Today

Water bugs, once abundant in ponds and fields, have faced habitat reduction due to urbanization and industrialization. Beyond their culinary significance, the oil extracted from water bugs stimulates nerves, enhances mood, and supports reproductive processes.

Recognizing these benefits, specialized water bug farming for oil extraction has emerged and is gradually expanding. On average, one water bug yields 0.02ml of oil, with male bugs producing 20 times more oil than females.
To extract the oil, delicately separate the two legs of the bug, revealing the two oil sacs. Use specialized tools to gently extract the oil sacs and store them in a sealed, clean container.

Modern pig farming is not limited to rural areas; now, it has found its place in the heart of Hanoi with the innovative model of pig farming in multi-story buildings. In the Hoang Long cooperative in Thanh Oai district, Hanoi, they have constructed a 3-story barn system covering over 2.1 hectares to raise 100 meat pigs and nearly 1000 breeding pigs. This enclosed farming model ensures a complete supply of food, breeding sources, and guarantees biosecurity as well as environmental hygiene through disinfection and waste treatment systems.

High specialization is evident in the Hoang Long cooperative, utilizing technology achievements to drastically reduce labor while ensuring efficiency. They employ a modern elevator system to move breeding and market pigs during the import and export process.

The multi-story pig farming model not only maximizes space utilization but also contributes to environmental protection. The entire process, from selecting breeds, providing food, to waste treatment, occurs within a closed and fixed space.

In accordance with Vietnamese culinary culture, dog meat is considered a specialty, leading to high consumption demand. To meet this demand, many households have delved into raising dogs for the market.

The cost of each breeding dog is only about 80,000 - 100,000 VND. With a simple feeding regimen, easy to raise, after about 3 months, they are ready for the market, with the market price for dog meat ranging from 40,000 - 50,000 VND/kg. Each dog for the market weighs an average of 10 - 14 kg, resulting in earnings of no less than 500,000 VND per dog. Raising a large quantity can lead to monthly income reaching tens of millions of VND.

Currently, the dog farming model is being widely replicated, with scales ranging from several dozen to several hundred, helping many households escape difficulties and have a stable source of income and food.

The first Kobe cattle farm in Vietnam is established in Tan Lac commune, Bao Lam district, Lam Dong province. The entire process of building the pens and the Kobe cattle farming techniques here are transferred directly by Japanese engineers.

Unlike the normal industrial feed process for cattle, the feed for Kobe cattle is carefully selected and consists entirely of raw foods such as cultivated grass, sugarcane pulp, fermented corn core, Vietnamese broken rice, and some specialized nutritional supplements to ensure the quality of the beef meets the nutritional standards.

What's unique is that at feeding time on the farm, the cattle are treated to symphonic music. This creates a reflex for Kobe cattle; when the music plays, they instinctively know where to find their food source.

With an increase in living standards comes a more discerning consumer. People now focus on eating well, not just enough. That's why free-range chicken, with its natural diet instead of industrial feed, is increasingly preferred.

Every day, a specialized vehicle transports the chicken flock to the field to forage for worms, insects, and grains. In the evening, they are herded back and confined in coops. This simple and cost-effective method saves farmers a considerable amount in livestock expenses. Due to the natural diet, the need for growth-promoting feed is minimal, resulting in improved egg and meat quality. While free-range chicken is priced higher, the significant profit and benefits for farmers make it a lucrative choice.

The model of breeding mutant pythons for ornamental purposes has significantly improved the livelihoods of many families in the Mekong Delta region. Each mutant python has a cost that is tens of times higher than ordinary pythons. On average, a young mutant python, when newly hatched, can be priced from 2 to 3 million VND, and over time, with changes in weight, a mutant python can bring in from 20 to 40 million VND for the owner.

With a high market demand, breeders are enthusiastic and don't need to worry about product sales. Albino pythons and patterned pythons are the most commonly bred for mutants, making households owning these breeds akin to having a 'gold mine' at home.

Given the profits that this model brings, regulatory agencies need to preserve and promote it to improve the lives of the people and transform the face of the rural areas.

Raising sky ducks—a once unimaginable task—has become a reality, providing a stable source of income for Mr. Lam Ngoc Nham in Binh Thuan. Nham's Cloud Duck Farm is always filled with the melodious sound of classical symphony music emanating from the large speakers placed right next to the duck pens. While ducks are naturally excellent fliers, Nham has trained them since they were young, so they follow him wherever he goes.

Every day, around 6 PM, when a signal is played from a drum located about 100 meters from the pond, the flock of sky ducks automatically gathers for their 'dinner.'

Thanks to unique care and nurturing methods, Nham's sky duck farming model is well-known, and many people seek to learn from his experience. The delicious duck meat has won the hearts of discerning customers across various provinces in the country. After deducting all expenses, selling ducklings brings in approximately 3 to 3.5 billion VND each month, significantly improving the economic situation.

Aside from producing highly beneficial organic fertilizer for agriculture, the mosquito-repelling benefits of bat guano are also being fully utilized. Bats have the habit of returning to their nests to defecate after hunting for food, resulting in a substantial amount of organic fertilizer every morning.

Not only used directly in agriculture, some households are expanding bat farming to sell guano, generating an income of no less than 200 million VND per year. Constructing bat roosts significantly reduces the mosquito population in rural areas, creating a clean environment that helps prevent diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and the recent Zika virus outbreak caused by mosquitoes. Therefore, this model needs to be preserved and rapidly expanded to other regions.

The swiftlet species has a distinctive characteristic of only roosting in its own nest. No matter how far they forage, they always find their way back home at night. Therefore, indoor swiftlet farming eliminates the need for any food expenses or concerns about the quantity of birds.

Another unique feature is that once swiftlets choose a nest, they stick with it for their entire lives, making swiftlet farming nearly risk-free and highly sustainable. With diligent care and proper breeding practices, the number of swiftlets can triple within a year, resulting in substantial profits.

The red-crowned crane is a precious bird with a sky-high market value. Specializing in raising this species is sure to bring substantial profits. A prime example of wealth accumulation through red-crowned crane farming is Mr. Truong Van Phuc from Tien Giang. Starting with a pair of red-crowned cranes priced at 8 million VND in 2008, Phuc has supplied approximately 200 breeding cranes and around 100 red-crowned cranes for ornamental purposes to the market. With a high market value, the monthly income solely from red-crowned cranes has brought in around 300 million VND/year. Recently, Phuc has expanded to raising other species such as peafowl, Indonesian black chickens, and Dong Tao chickens.

To maximize the success of breeding, he has applied various techniques and advice from the veterinary industry. Since red-crowned cranes do not possess egg-incubating capabilities, he invested in four artificial egg incubators, achieving a successful hatching rate of up to 70%.