Alligator snapping turtle farming becomes a new way for farmers to increase income
On July 27, at the Jigongchong alligator snapping turtle breeding base in Tianchang Village, Zhongdong Village, Huangyao Town, Hezhou, Guangxi, technicians were busy cleaning the pool and giving the alligator snapping turtles a water "bath." In the pool, alligator snapping turtles of different ages were crawling everywhere, and a technician excitedly picked one up to show this writer.
According to technician Zhou Yongxi, the breeding base has tried to maintain the environment and living habits of alligator snapping turtles in the wild. The water in the pool is drawn from mountain springs and placed in the fish pond before use, so that the water temperature, microorganisms and other conditions are close to those in the wild. Feeding is mainly based on live fish, which not only increases the turtles' activity and promotes growth, but also makes the turtle meat delicious.
The breeding base was established in July 2013, with a total investment of more than 3 million yuan, an area of about 800 sq m, and a breeding scale of 3,500 turtles. It mainly breeds breeding turtles and sells turtle hatchlings, and is currently the largest alligator snapping turtle breeding base in Hezhou.
"Setting up a large alligator snapping turtle farm in such an inland environment, we also encountered some breeding difficulties." Liu Ning, who is in charge of managing the breeding base, said that due to insufficient technical skills, more than 100 turtle hatchlings died in the early stage of breeding, and later more than 10 breeding turtles died for unknown reasons. In response to these problems, the technicians posted pictures in the alligator snapping turtle farming friends' exchange platform to consult breeding veterans from all over the country, while also exploring solutions through breeding practice.
After three years of exploratory breeding, the base has now sold about 2,000 turtle hatchlings. Calculated at a market price of 150 yuan each, sales have reached 300,000 yuan, and the economic benefits of the long-term project are beginning to show.
The good economic benefits have attracted the interest of nearby residents, and 25 households in the surrounding area have joined the ranks of alligator snapping turtle farming. The base not only provides turtle hatchlings and technical guidance to farmers, but also handles the recovery and sale of turtle hatchlings and adult turtles. "My family now raises 40 turtles, and the big ones already weigh four or five jin!" farmer Liu Daochuan said confidently, adding that once the turtle hatchlings are produced, there will be income.
"We are not worried about selling the alligator snapping turtles we raise. Orders from Guangdong and Zhejiang are constantly increasing." According to Liu Ning, next they plan to establish a professional cooperative to increase breeding varieties, expand the breeding scale, and drive more people to join the breeding ranks.
Pan Qiuping, excerpted from "Hezhou Daily"