Leech Farming Costs and Profits: Analysis of Leech Farming Prospects

The leech can be said to be an ancient animal-based medicine, having been used as a medicine for about a thousand years. As early as more than 2000 years ago, China's "Shennong Bencao Jing" recorded this medicine, which shows how high the medicinal value of the leech is and how high people's demand is. So if you farm leeches, what will the leech market be like? Let's take a look together.

Leech Farming Costs and Profits

1. For the farming cost of leeches, taking a farming area of 5 mu as an example, the land rental cost is about 0.3-0.4 ten thousand yuan, base excavation 0.4 ten thousand yuan, escape-prevention netting 0.25 ten thousand yuan, most feed can be farmed by yourself, but initially it needs to be purchased, costing about 0.3 ten thousand yuan, applying farmyard manure 0.05 ten thousand yuan, 250 kg of breeder leeches about 8 ten thousand yuan, management costs 1.2 ten thousand yuan, disinfection 0.02 ten thousand yuan, water and electricity fees 0.15 ten thousand yuan, with a total investment of about 10 ten thousand yuan. Of course, the size of the investment also determines the size of the farming scale. Its farming benefit is not judged by the size of the site, but by the leech seed stock placed per 1 mu. Only when the breeder leeches reproduce and the young grow up can weight gain occur.

2. If there is one mu of farming area and 5000 breeder leeches are stocked, the annual output value will be a gross income of more than 13 ten thousand yuan. After deducting facilities, feed and other costs, the net profit is around 10 ten thousand yuan, and the profit from farming 5 mu is as high as 50 ten thousand yuan. Using high-density, intensive production, stocking 1000 leeches within an area of 5U square meters, the annual output value can reach more than 25000 yuan, and after deducting the costs of seed stock, feed, facilities, etc., the profit from leech farming is more than 20000 yuan.

Analysis of Leech Farming Prospects

1. At present, the market demand for leeches is increasing year by year, wild leech resources are being depleted year by year, inventory supply in various places is weak, and the supply-demand gap is as high as more than 50%. These factors are the main reasons causing leech prices to rise sharply for consecutive years.

2. A survey of 17 specialized Chinese medicinal herb markets across the country showed that since 2000, leech prices have risen sharply for consecutive years, rising from 150 yuan in 2002 to 160 yuan in 2003, 170 yuan in 2004, 180 yuan in 2005, 190 yuan in 2006, 200 yuan in 2007, and 230 yuan in 2008. From 2009 to 2011, leech prices soared continuously, rising to 380 yuan in 2009, then soaring again to 740 yuan in 2010, and by 2011 had soared to 800-820 yuan.

Suggestions for Leech Farming

1. If you are a young man starting a business, have no industry experience, and have no funds on hand, then you must obtain the support and understanding of your family. You must discuss it with your family, and the whole family must unite to do it, so that there can be longer-term development.

2. Those who do not have internet access conditions and the ability to respond to emergencies are advised not to farm leeches. In the information age, receiving information, processing information, and understanding information are very important investment abilities. Poor reception and handling of information will lead to investment failure.

3. If there are pollution sources locally, do not engage in leech farming. The key factor in farming leeches well is the water source. Without a good ecological water source, with substandard pH, and unsuitable soil, forcing yourself to farm will only lead to investment failure. In that case, it would be better to choose another investment project.

4. When farming leeches, you must plan the farming time well. Once you start farming leeches, you must be prepared that you will only see a return on your money after a year and a half, or even two years. If you want to kill and process them right after the leeches finish laying eggs, that is a different matter. At the same time, not all investments bring returns, but without investment there will definitely be no return at all. This is the investment mindset that investors must have.

How to Select and Purchase Leech Seed Stock

Seed stock: For seed stock, choose large individuals that are robust, uninjured, energetic, bright in color, and with clear stripes; those that form clumps when caught by hand are suitable. Egg cocoons: For egg cocoons, choose those with a bright appearance, complete cocoon shape, no injuries or marks, and preferably about 800 cocoons per kg. Young leeches: For young leeches, choose those with strong activity, a shiny body surface, no injuries or marks, and a robust build. Do not purchase those with external injuries or poor vitality.

Farming leeches is not difficult, and the profits from leeches can be considered considerable. Usually, leeches are caught in summer and autumn, killed with boiling water, and leeches and horse leeches can be preserved by sun-drying or oven-drying. At the same time, they also need to be sealed and placed in a relatively ventilated and dry place, which can prevent insect damage.