The model has created employment opportunities for many Farmers’ Union members and local farmers.

The pigeons are fed a specially formulated diet enriched with herbal extracts, which helps strengthen their immune systems, improves meat quality and firmness, and enhances nutritional value, ultimately generating higher returns for farmers. Visitors to the cooperative’s organic pigeon farm are immediately impressed by its clean, well-ventilated environment, notably free from the unpleasant odors commonly associated with livestock production.

According to Nguyen Van Thanh, Director of the Quoc Anh Livestock and Production Cooperative, pigeon meat has long been valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties.

“In traditional Vietnamese medicine, pigeon meat is considered neutral in nature and mildly salty in flavor. It is highly nutritious, tender, and naturally sweet, making it particularly suitable for older people, children, patients, and women recovering from childbirth. It has traditionally been used as a restorative food. Modern nutritional research also shows that pigeon meat is rich in protein while containing less fat than most other poultry and livestock meats. In addition, it provides essential vitamins, including A, B, and E, as well as important minerals such as iron, calcium, and copper. As a result, pigeon meat is widely appreciated as a healthy food that supports overall well-being.”

To further improve product quality, the cooperative has partnered with the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance to develop herbal feed supplements. Various medicinal herbs are processed into concentrated extracts, diluted with water, and mixed into the birds’ feed. This feeding method improves nutrient absorption, reduces feed consumption, and promotes faster and healthier growth.

The birds are primarily fed imported barley together with maize, rice, paddy, mung beans, soybeans, and other carefully selected grains that meet strict food safety and quality standards. Feed rations are adjusted according to the birds’ nutritional requirements at each stage of development.

Throughout the production cycle, the cooperative relies mainly on natural feed ingredients and does not use growth-promoting drugs. As a result, the quality of the meat has improved significantly. The pigeon meat is more aromatic, naturally sweeter, and richer in flavor, making it increasingly popular among consumers.

On average, the cooperative sells more than 10,000 processed and vacuum-packed pigeons each month at approximately VND 80,000 per bird. Its products are supplied to markets both within and beyond Phu Tho Province, including Lao Cai, Hai Phong, Ha Noi, and Ho Chi Minh City.

In addition to retail customers, the cooperative serves strong demand from restaurants and food establishments, where pigeon meat is prepared in a wide variety of traditional dishes, including herbal pigeon soup, steamed, boiled, roasted, hotpot, stir-fried, and fermented soybean recipes.

The cooperative currently maintains a flock of approximately 13,000 breeding pairs, including more than 11,000 breeding pairs and the remainder as replacement stock. Thanks to efficient production practices and competitive pricing, the cooperative generates an annual net income of over VND 2 billion after production costs.

According to Ly Minh Tien, Chairman of the Tien Luong Commune Farmers’ Union, the cooperative has become a pioneer in herbal French pigeon farming and has created stable employment opportunities for many local Farmers’ Union members.

“The success of Quoc Anh Cooperative has encouraged many farmers in the commune to learn from the model and invest in similar production systems. It offers a promising new direction for farming households seeking to diversify their livelihoods and increase their incomes.”

The herbal pigeon farming model demonstrates how innovation, combined with traditional knowledge and safe production practices, can improve product quality, increase farmers' incomes, and promote more sustainable livestock production in rural communities.