Overcoming the weaknesses of free-range chicken farming with the VietGAHP process

Free range according to a controlled process

According to statistics, the total poultry flock of Thai Nguyen province is over 16 million heads. In Dong Hy district, many farmer households have boldly invested in chicken farming with a farm scale of 500 heads or more, mainly colored feathered chickens. However, the old farming method of free range does not ensure disease safety, especially for avian influenza.

From that reality, in 2024, Thai Nguyen Agricultural Extension Center deployed the model "Replicating free-range colored feathered chicken farming according to VietGAHP standards associated with product consumption linkage" in Hoa Trung commune, Dong Hy district, with a scale of 4,400 commercial broilers. This model aims to ensure disease-free livestock farming and food safety and, at the same time, transfer new scientific advances in chicken farming to people.

The model is deployed on a scale of 500–3,000 heads/household using the Ho hydrid chicken variety raised in a semi-free-range method with surrounding fences, nets, and walls to separate it from human habitation. The model also applies the VietGAHP good husbandry practice process, from selecting breeds, barns, feed, disease prevention, etc., thereby limiting the spread of diseases and ensuring the safety of chicken flocks as well as the safety of breeders.

As one of the households participating in implementing the model in Hoa Trung commune, Dong Hy district, Thai Nguyen province, Mr. Pham Van Dinh and many other people have participated in training classes on the technical processes of livestock farming according to VietGAHP, from instructions on building barns and choosing breeds to processes of caring for and nurturing, cleaning, and preventing diseases, especially the process of disease prevention with vaccines.

In addition, according to Mr. Dinh, farmers also receive 70% support for the cost of purchasing breeds, feed, veterinary medicine, and biological preparations. Besides, during the implementation of the model, Thai Nguyen Agricultural Extension Center sent specialized staff to directly monitor indicators such as the number of participating households, number of chickens raised, survival rate, feed consumption, and chicken weight gain over time. Especially helping farmer households in cleaning and disinfecting barns, and the process of using vaccines.

"Previously, when raised according to traditional methods, chickens were very susceptible to diseases and had to use a lot of antibiotics. But now, farming according to VietGAHP standards has helped the chicken flock be healthy, less susceptible to diseases, and have firmer and more delicious meat.

Particularly, livestock waste has been treated with biological preparations, so the barn does not have odors, creating a clean environment to help the chicken flock grow healthy and safe. Safe livestock farming will also ensure people's health, contributing to promoting the livestock industry to develop effectively and sustainably," Mr. Pham Van Dinh emphasized.

Regarding economic efficiency, breeders said that despite stricter requirements, the chicken farming model according to VietGAHP standards has made a difference compared to traditional farming. According to calculations, with a scale of 1,000 Ho hydrid chickens and at the current selling price, breeders will earn a profit of VND 17 million, a profit level accepted by farmers.

Increasing the survival rate of the poultry flock to 90–99%

In 2024, from the economic non-business capital of Thai Nguyen province, Thai Nguyen Agricultural Extension Center deployed the model "Replicating free-range colored feathered chicken farming according to VietGAHP standards associated with product consumption linkage" with a scale of 4,500 heads in Hoa Trung commune, Dong Hy district.

Along with that, from the support capital of the National Agricultural Extension Center, Thai Nguyen Agricultural Extension Center has coordinated to deploy a chicken farming model according to VietGAHP standards with a scale of 9,000 heads and a chicken farming model in an organic direction associated with OCOP product development with a scale of 3,300 heads, all in Phu Binh district.

According to Mr. Ha Trong Tuan, Director of the Thai Nguyen Agricultural Extension Center, through the above-mentioned three models, the Center has focused on exploiting technical advances in poultry farming, such as applying VietGAHP and organic standards, using biological preparations in barn treatment, nutritional supplements for poultry flocks, etc., thereby contributing to improving livestock efficiency, ensuring biosafety, preventing diseases, and protecting the environment.

"Meeting the requirements of biosafety farming, especially using biological preparations to treat barns and livestock waste, has contributed to improving health, reducing disease rates, and raising the survival rate of the poultry flock to 90–99%, thereby improving product quality and income for people," said Mr. Ha Trong Tuan.

Along with that, the Director of the Thai Nguyen Agricultural Extension Center said that the use of biological preparations to treat barns and waste has been reduced to a minimum or even none of odors in the barn. This helps to not affect the living environment of farm owners as well as surrounding people, contributing to ensuring people's health, protecting the environment, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in livestock farming.

Through the model, Thai Nguyen Agricultural Extension Center wishes to promote dissemination and recommendations and change the awareness of farmers, especially livestock households, so that they can proactively and voluntarily apply processes of biosafety farming, VietGAHP farming, organic farming, and using biological preparations in barn treatment. Thereby contributing to improving the quality of the poultry flock, increasing survival rates, improving economic efficiency, and protecting the environment.

"Although livestock farming according to VietGAHP standards requires investment of funds, time, and effort, this is the right direction for the poultry farming industry. Not only does it ensure biosafety and disease prevention for poultry, but it also ensures safety for breeders and consumers," Mr. Ha Trong Tuan affirmed.

The results of implementing the model in Thai Nguyen show that broiler farming according to VietGAHP standards is suitable for local farming conditions. Economic and technical indicators such as survival rate of 95%, 13-week-old chicken weight of 2.6 kg, etc., all met the requirements.