American-Thai hybrid chickens open new livelihood path for Bay Nui region

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American-Thai hybrid chickens are being experimented by many households in the Bay Nui area in An Giang province, Vietnam. Early results show clear effectiveness, opening a direction for sustainable livelihood development for local people.

Over many years, An Giang has promoted livelihood transformation based on its advantage of large mixed gardens and hilly terrain. The model of raising American-Thai hybrid chickens has become a bright spot, because this breed not only adapts well to the hot and humid climate, but also has good meat quality and stable selling price.

From a few pioneering households, the model has spread and gradually shown potential to become a specialty product of the Bay Nui region.

• The breed is a cross between a super-meat American rooster and a Thai hen, giving strong disease resistance, attractive appearance, high meat yield, and low incidence of illness.
• The selling price remains at USD 4.93-5.69 per kg, higher than common commercial chicken breeds.
• Mature chickens (10-12 months) reach 3-3.5 kg, with a survival rate over 95%, low losses, and good profitability.
• The model requires no large land area; free-range garden raising keeps chickens healthy, reduces diseases, and saves 40-50% of feed costs by utilizing natural resources in mixed gardens.

The pioneer in breeding high-quality local hybrids

Chau Dinh, a Khmer resident in O Lam commune, is one of the first households to bring the American-Thai hybrid chicken breed to raise.

Wanting to create a breed that is both healthy and high in commercial value, he self-learned the technique, connected with breeding farms to select pure American roosters and standard Thai hens.

Chau Dinh raises his hybrid chickens in the ‘tam vong’ garden (a type of tree garden) using a free-range method Photo: Nong nghiep Moi truong).

Initially, with only a few parent chickens, he persistently tested each batch, meticulously recording the hatch rate, vitality, and physical traits. After nearly one year, he successfully bred five batches of parent chickens, each batch having 7-8 individuals, with a very high survival rate. The flock became more stable, laying a foundation for a specialty breeding model in the mountainous area.

Chickens raised by free-ranging under the forest canopy produce firm, aromatic meat, favored by restaurants and traders. He has now invested in a semi-natural coop system, separate zones for living, hatching, and free-range yard, helping him manage the flock effectively and ensure hygiene.

Although the climate in the Bay Nui region is harsh, especially in the dry season, the hybrid American-Thai chickens adapt well, rarely suffering from intestinal or respiratory diseases. Farmers only need to vaccinate on schedule and maintain hygiene for the flock to develop evenly.

High market demand, stable output

The market currently favors chicken breeds with good appearance, superior meat quality, and clear origin. American-Thai hybrid chickens meet both specialty and ornamental chicken demands, so the output market is quite broad.

Many traders in An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho say the current supply is still low, which keeps chicken prices at a good level, and they are seldom pressured in price like mass-raised native chickens. This is an opportunity for mountain-area farmers to develop a distinct model, without competing with industrial poultry regions.

An Giang’s agriculture sector assesses that the model aligns with the direction of sustainable livelihoods, leveraging mixed gardens and building local specialty products. If farmers receive more support on technique, breed selection, and disease prevention, they can form cooperatives or linked groups to scale up and ensure a stable output.

Phan Thanh Luong, Chairman of the People’s Committee of O Lam commune, said the locality is considering proposing to build the brand ‘An Giang mountain-region hybrid chicken’, linked with the OCOP program (One Commune One Product) to increase value and create a sustainable market presence.

American-Thai hybrid chickens are clearly a suitable direction for small-scale farmers in the Bay Nui region. With good breed management, applying biosecurity, and maintaining free-range garden raising, the model can bring stable income and help local people develop sustainable livelihoods in the future.