Toad Farming Involves Site Management and Harvesting of Toad Venom and Toad Skin

The toad, commonly known as the warty toad, is a common amphibian. Farmed toads are mainly raised to harvest traditional Chinese medicinal materials such as toad venom and toad skin. Toad venom comes from the white secretion of the glands behind the toad's ears, while toad skin is the epidermis shed by the toad; both have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine.

The toad species suitable for farming mainly include the Chinese toad (Bufo gargarizans) and the black-spectacled toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus). The farming site should be chosen near a water source with convenient drainage and irrigation, and should include both a water pool and a land activity area, with escape-prevention facilities around the perimeter and appropriate shading, so as to provide a damp, cool habitat for the toads.

Toads prefer live animal feed, commonly including yellow mealworms, earthworms, fly maggots and various insects, while at the tadpole stage they mainly feed on plankton and powdered feed. Daily management should focus on keeping the water clean, raising them in graded groups according to body size, guarding against natural enemies such as snakes, rats and birds, and providing winter insulation for overwintering.

It should be noted that wild toads are protected animals in many regions, so relevant procedures should be completed in accordance with regulations before starting farming, and stock should be introduced through proper channels. The harvesting of toad venom and toad skin has certain requirements regarding timing and method; beginners should first master the basic operating techniques before gradually expanding the scale of farming.