Daqing City's goose farming is expected to hit a new high

    Under the strong guidance and promotion of the Daqing Municipal Party Committee, the Municipal Government and relevant departments in Heilongjiang, goose farming in Daqing this year will hit a new high. With the dairy cattle and hog markets in the doldrums, the recovery of the goose farming industry is expected to open up new prospects for the development of Daqing's livestock sector.

This year Daqing expects to raise 12 million geese, a year-on-year increase of 20%. Deducting the nearly 2 million geese already in stock at the start of this year, the four counties are expected to newly develop 6 million geese, and the urban area is expected to newly develop 4 million geese.

Farming costs are the focus of farmers' attention. Because 2008 was affected by high gosling prices, high farming costs and low sale prices, the profitability of goose farming in 2008 was relatively low, which once plunged goose farming into a slump and directly affected farmers' enthusiasm forraising geesein 2009; at present most farmers are still watching and waiting.

Low gosling prices are the key to this year's growth in farming returns and confidence. This year gosling prices average 5.5 yuan each, down 54.2% from 12 yuan each last year; excluding the goslings, the farming cost per goose is about 15 yuan, so this year's farming cost is about 20 yuan, compared with about 27 yuan last year; each adult goose weighs about 7 jin, and based on last year's price of 5.4 yuan/jin and this year's expected price of 6 yuan/jin, this year's return will be about 22 yuan, a 100% increase from about 11 yuan last year.

The city's total revenue from geese this year is expected to reach nearly 400 million yuan, accounting for about 5-6% of total livestock output.