4 Common Bamboo Rat Species in Vietnam

Raising bamboo rats is very attractive because of its high profits, while care and investment in barns are not too expensive.

Bamboo rats are a popular rodent in Vietnam and some Southeast Asian countries. They are raised for meat, because bamboo rat meat is delicious and has high economic value.

1. HOARY BAMBOO RAT

The largest bamboo rat species among the bamboo rat species raised in Vietnam.

-Large size, adults reach weight 2-4kg.

– Fur is silvery gray, belly is lighter.

– Fast growth rate, each litter has 3-5 offspring.

Advantages:

– Easy to raise, adapts well to captivity.

– High economic value due to large size and good quality meat.

Image of Hoary bamboo rat

2. CHINESE BAMBOO RAT

– Smaller in size than large bamboo rats, adult weight 1-2kg.

– Gray mold fur, slim body.

– Well adapted to small-scale farming environments.

Advantages:

– Easy to raise and requires less investment than hoary bamboo rats.

– Suitable for households starting to raise bamboo rats.

3. LARGE BAMBOO RAT

A special bamboo rat with pink or peach cheeks, very easy to identify.

– Small size, adult weight from 0.7-1.2kg.

– Usually live in mountainous areas where the climate is cool.

Image of Large bamboo rat

Advantages:

– Firm, delicious meat, popular in the market.

– Suitable for raising in natural or semi-natural environment.

4. LESSER BAMBOO RAT (WILD BAMBOO RAT)

They are more compact, weighing only 0.5 to 1kg, but have the advantage of a very simple diet and are easy to raise in the natural environment. This is a suitable bamboo rat species for those who want to experiment with the semi-natural bamboo rat farming model.

– Small body, weighs from 0.5-1kg.

– Brown fur, bright eyes, sharp teeth.

– Mainly eat grass, bamboo, leaves.

Advantages:

– Few diseases, easy to raise in natural environment.

– Simple diet, not expensive.

Image of Lesser bamboo rat

POPULAR BAMBOO RAT FARMING MODEL IN VIETNAM

1. Raising in cement cages:

The cage needs to be sturdy to prevent the rats from escaping. The cage size is about 1m² and can house 2-4 adult bamboo rats.

2. Cage farming:

Use iron or stainless steel cage, easy to manage and clean.

3. Semi-natural farming:

This model is suitable for small bamboo rats, taking advantage of natural food sources such as bamboo, sugarcane, and grass.

The 4 most popular bamboo rats in Vietnam: Hoary bamboo rat, Chinese bamboo rat, Large bamboo rat, Lesser bamboo rat. Each species has its own advantages, suitable for each farming model and investment capacity of each person.

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