Precautions for Special Breeding Investment
I. Types and Characteristics of Special Breeding
To develop special breeding, one must first understand what it is. There are many types of special breeding. By animal classification, they can be divided into special poultry, special aquatic products, special beasts, and special insects; by breeding purposes and uses, they can be divided into medicinal animals, fur animals, special meat animals, ornamental animals, etc., and there are also natural protection animals. Some animals have multiple uses. The following are some examples of the more commonly bred special animals currently:
1. Special breeding meat animals: wild boars, hares, mini pigs, snails, meat snakes, etc.;
2. Special breeding medicinal animals: deer, snakes, scorpions, geckos, etc.;
3. Special breeding fur animals: foxes, raccoon dogs, minks, muskrats, musk rats, civets, etc.;
4. Special breeding poultry: pheasants, quail, guinea fowl, red-bellied pheasants, peacocks, white ducks, green-shelled egg chickens, quail, black-boned chickens, turkeys, ostriches, etc.;
5. Special breeding insects: earthworms, mealworms, superworms, etc.
II. Check Market Trends Before Investing
Special breeding carries a lot of risks. Without a thorough understanding of market trends and blindly following others, nine out of ten attempts will end in loss. It is essential to be market-oriented and conduct detailed investigations on the market capacity, sales status, industry competition, as well as how long the species you intend to breed has been popular in the market, when saturation might occur, and when stagnation could happen, using these insights to decide on the timing for breeding or switching production.
III. Suitable Natural Environment for Special Breeding
An appropriate climate can maximize the reduction of feeding costs for special animals and enhance their disease resistance. Conversely, creating an artificial environment not only increases feeding costs but also reduces the animals' disease resistance.
IV. Choosing Good Breeds is Fundamental for Special Breeding
When selecting good breeds, it should be done under expert guidance, choosing varieties that have been authenticated by relevant national departments. These breeds mostly come from research institutions, educational units, and breeding farms recognized by the state.
V. Overcoming the Desire for Quick Wealth
Some people engage in special breeding due to the allure of high returns, chasing high profits and rapid wealth accumulation. In reality, products from special breeding have specific consumer groups. Except during artificially created periods of excessive profit, their product prices and demand will be constrained by market laws. Once there is an oversupply without a comprehensive processing system or unique consumption guarantee, a decline in product prices is inevitable.
VI. Products Must Have Good Sales Channels
Products without sales channels should not be pursued; those with limited sales channels should be cautiously pursued; those where the sales market has yet to form should be slowly developed; seasonally strong products should be produced according to different seasons, and scales should be planned accordingly.
VII. Leveraging the Advantages of Special Breeding Requires Adaptation to Local Conditions
Since every animal has its own specific survival environment and conditions, special breeding must adapt to local conditions, leveraging local natural resource advantages by choosing animal breeds suitable for the local environment and conditions. This way, high-quality products can be produced at the lowest cost, achieving higher economic benefits. When product quality and market prices are the same, whoever has resource advantages and lower costs will achieve higher benefits. Below are several factors we need to consider before engaging in special animal breeding:
1. Feed
Having abundant, high-quality, and inexpensive feed is a decisive factor in reducing costs and improving economic efficiency. Abundant grass can support the breeding of herbivorous animals like hares, wild boars, and sika deer; sufficient grain can support the breeding of special poultry such as mountain chickens, guinea fowls, green-shelled egg chickens, and peacocks. If feed is insufficient and market prices are high, it will increase costs and reduce benefits.
2. Climate Factors
Different animals adapt differently to climates. Therefore, some are called tropical animals, others polar animals, and others temperate animals. Animals unsuited to the climate should not be bred. Some animals can only survive in warm places, while others can only reproduce in cold environments. Fur animals must be in cold areas to produce high-quality products.
3. Water Sources
In areas with abundant and good-quality water sources, special aquaculture can be developed; in areas with fewer water sources, drought-resistant animals can be bred. However, regardless of whether the animals are aquatic or non-aquatic, they must have adequate water sources, otherwise, breeding cannot take place.