Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Cao Hua) news: Although the chill of spring still persists, the warmth is gradually increasing. On February 25, journalists visited the sika deer breeding base in Elosenbulag Village, Dalete Town, Bole City. From a distance, the distinct and harmonious bleating of sika deer could be heard. A group of sika deer were lowering their heads to graze, and occasionally they would look up. Their bright eyes were full of vigor, presenting a new spring scene of "the bleating of deer heralds the return of spring and the prosperous industries revitalize the village".

Sika deer eat at the breeding base in Elosenbulag Village, Dalete Town, Bole City, northwest China’s Xinjiang. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/ Cao Hua)

"Look, this deer has a lustrous coat, which suggests it is growing healthily," said Chen Xiaoliang, the 58 - year - old head of the Shuangquan Breeding Professional Cooperative in Bole City. He was strolling through the deer sheds, inspecting and providing explanations simultaneously. There were still a few remnants of forage on his hands, and his eyes were brimming with anticipation for the new spring. As a local of this village, Chen Xiaoliang has been engaged in dealing with cattle and sheep for half of his life, yet he has constantly been plagued by the issue of low breeding efficiency. In 2021, he conceived the idea of breeding sika deer. He introduced over 50 sika deer from other regions and commenced exploring relevant experience.

Upon entering the deer shed, it was evident that each shed was clean and well - organized, and the forage was neatly piled. "Deer are as selective as humans. If the forage is not properly blended, they will reject it and refuse to consume," said Chen Xiaoliang as he crouched down and meticulously rummaged through the forage. "We must explore the local breeding experience in Xinjiang. We need to cut costs while guaranteeing the deer's nutrition. This cannot be achieved in a short period." He mentioned that raising sika deer shares similarities with raising cattle and sheep, yet the requirements for forage are more stringent. Through continuous summarization and exploration, they have now mastered a comprehensive set of techniques for feeding and epidemic prevention.

This breeding base covers an area of 50 mu and has a total investment of over 6.2 million yuan. It was established in 2025, and currently, it has a stock of 780 sika deer, gradually reshaping the industrial blueprint of Elosenbulag Village. "Previously, the village primarily relied on cattle and sheep breeding. However, as grassland protection has been intensified, the path of traditional breeding has become increasingly restricted," said Yerzat Disek, the Party branch secretary of the village, in an interview with reporters. The transformation and development of the breeding industry are extremely pressing, and the exploration of sika deer breeding has found a new way for the village to achieve a win - win situation between ecological protection and industrial revitalization.

In order to allow more villagers to share the industrial dividends, the village has innovatively developed a trinity breeding model of "village collective + cooperative + farmers". The village collective invests in the construction of livestock pens. The cooperative takes the lead in being responsible for the breeding stock, technology, epidemic prevention, and sales. Farmers can choose independent breeding or entrusted breeding based on their own circumstances. The cooperative also signs a guaranteed purchase agreement, completely alleviating the villagers' concerns. At present, 31 individuals from 11 low - income households have benefited from sika deer breeding. All 7 members of the cooperative are from the village, and there are also 6 full - time workers with a monthly salary exceeding 5,000 yuan. During the peak labor period, it can facilitate dozens of villagers to find local employment, enabling everyone to increase their income without leaving the village.

The innovative exploration at the base extends far beyond this. Chen Xiaoliang pointed to a group of robust deer and said, "We have attempted to crossbreed sika deer with native Xinjiang red deer, and the attempt has been successful." According to the information provided, there are already more than 200 crossbred deer. Adult red deer can reach a height of over two meters. They not only exhibit stronger adaptability to Xinjiang's climate and forage but also have a significantly enhanced antler yield. An ordinary sika deer produces 2 to 3 kilograms of antlers annually, whereas a crossbred deer can produce 3 to 5 kilograms. "Currently, fresh deer antlers can be sold at 5 yuan per gram. We process the antlers into slices, place them in gift boxes, and distribute them to tourist attractions for sale. The market demand greatly exceeds the supply," Chen Xiaoliang said. Although the initial investment in deer - raising is relatively substantial, deer can produce antlers continuously for over 20 years, yielding stable and long - term benefits.

Sika deer eat at the breeding base in Elosenbulag Village, Dalete Town, Bole City, northwest China’s Xinjiang. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/ Cao Hua)

At present, the first phase of the breeding base has been put into operation, and the 6,000 - square - meter expansion project of the second phase is scheduled to be completed this year. "We plan to increase the deer inventory to 2,000 within three years," said Chen Xiaoliang with full confidence when discussing the future development. "After reaching a stable scale, we will also conduct in - depth processing of deer antlers and establish a modern breeding base integrating breeding, processing, and sales, enabling sika deer to truly become the 'wealth - bringing deer' for the villagers."

When observing from a high vantage point of the base, one can witness herds of deer grazing leisurely, the enclosures full of vitality, and villagers filled with hope. The sika deer industry in Eluosenbulag Village is developing robustly. The bleating of the deer serves not only as the prelude to the new spring but also as the "wealth - bringing melody" for rural revitalization. On this fertile land, it is crafting a new - year response sheet characterized by ecological beauty, prosperous industries, and affluent villagers.

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