Deep in the mountains of Da Nang, a community-led model of raising sika deer for velvet antler harvesting is offering a new economic pathway. This initiative is helping many Co Tu households escape poverty and gradually achieve prosperity.
In the early morning mist over the roofs of Muc village in Thanh My commune, Da Nang, La Thi Sam places a fresh bundle of grass into a trough. Her sika deer bend their heads and eat eagerly inside a small pen tucked along the hillside.
Just over a year ago, Sam - an ethnic Co Tu woman - was still toiling in the fields, struggling to make ends meet. Today, with every deer velvet harvest, she earns tens of millions of dong (USD 400–800 per season), enough to support her children’s education and improve life at home.
In 2024, Sam and five other households in Muc village were provided with 20 breeding deer through a cooperative care model. This initiative is part of Vietnam’s National Target Program for Socioeconomic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas (2021–2025), implemented by the former Quang Nam province.
Thanks to deer farming, La Thi Sam’s family now enjoys a more stable life.
The households received in-depth guidance from agricultural officers on building pens, feeding routines, and disease prevention.
“At first, everyone was nervous, unsure if the deer would survive. But with detailed instructions and the animals’ natural resilience, within six months, our deer were producing velvet - and we were thrilled,” Sam said.
By using readily available local feed - grass, green bananas, corn, sweet potatoes - the cost of raising deer is remarkably low.
“We have wide hills, abundant grass, and the deer are easy to raise, rarely sick. The velvet sells easily and the price is stable. That’s why the model works so well,” she explained.
Once living in hardship, Sam and her group now enjoy steady incomes and are gradually transforming their lives. Her family no longer worries about food scarcity, and each year yields savings.
In the heart of the mountains, small deer farms are reshaping Co Tu villages.
A Rat Thet, one of the first participants, shared that group farming helps reduce startup costs while allowing families to support each other with techniques and experience.
He emphasized the value of deer velvet, often referred to as a “miracle medicine” for its rich nutrients and immune-boosting properties. In traditional medicine, velvet antler is considered one of the “four great tonic remedies” for its powerful healing and revitalizing effects.
“Each deer yields velvet twice a year, about 0.7–1.2 kg per harvest. At 10–12 million VND/kg (USD 400–480), that’s 15–20 million VND (USD 600–800) per deer annually. For mountain households like ours, that’s a substantial income. Compared to pigs or cattle, deer are healthier, easier to raise, and far more profitable,” he said.
Given these clear advantages, deer farming is now spreading rapidly to other villages, creating a new livelihood trend across the region. In just two communes - Thanh My and Ben Giang - around 200 households are now raising sika deer for velvet.
BNuo’ch Ngang says deer farming suits the local climate and farming customs in Da Nang’s highlands.
Beyond improving household incomes, the model is becoming a sustainable livelihood tool, lifting many Co Tu families out of poverty while enabling them to prosper without leaving their homeland.
BNuo’ch Ngang’s family in A Duong village, Dong Giang commune, currently raises 10 mature sika deer and has already harvested velvet three times.
“Deer are easy to raise. They eat natural grasses, don’t get sick often, and don’t need constant care. With good breeds and proper care, the velvet grows well and buyers come directly to the farm. As deer age, they produce more velvet, meaning higher and more stable profits,” he shared.
In addition to selling velvet, Ngang uses deer manure to fertilize crops and tends 1.5 hectares of purple ba kich, cinnamon trees, and fruit plants - creating multiple income streams.
“Thanks to this model, my family has escaped poverty. Life keeps improving. From ba kich and velvet alone, we earn over 120 million VND a year (approx. USD 4,800),” he said proudly.
Sika deer farming brings new hope to many highland families.Fresh velvet antler sells for 10–12 million VND per kilogram.
Ngang is also committed to sharing his knowledge. He mentors other villagers on choosing breeds, building pens, and caring for the deer to ensure strong health and high-quality velvet.
Thanks to his guidance and government livestock support policies, A Duong village now has 10 participating households with a combined herd of over 50 deer.
Dong Giang commune chairman, Coor Le, affirmed that deer farming yields better economic returns than many traditional livestock models. In mountainous areas, the model fits well because it utilizes natural forage and carries lower risk.
He noted that the commune integrates funds from national target programs every year to support breeding, provide technical training, and develop markets for deer velvet.
“In the coming period, we plan to expand support and scale, while combining forest-based economic models such as cinnamon, ba kich, and dang sam to further increase household incomes,” he added.
Vietnamnet.vn
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