The Way Farmers Raise Millions of Soft-Shell Turtles - Processing Turtles in Factories

Hello everyone. Today, we will explore the world of soft-shelled turtles, one of the most economically important turtle species in the world. Don't miss out, because we'll learn how they are raised to grow healthy in the sunny farms of Asia. In China, Japan, and Korea, soft-shelled turtles are commonly farmed, as they are not only highly nutritious, but also believed to have health benefits, even helping treat conditions like infertility, cancer, and rheumatism. Who would have thought that these turtles could bring so many benefits? Each year, farms in China produce up to 13 million soft-shelled turtles. That's right, 13 million. Each farm usually covers at least 500 square meters, ensuring plenty of space for the turtles to grow healthily. These turtles adapt extremely well to the warm climate here. Let's take a look at how they're cared for. Soft-shelled turtles have a very interesting reproductive cycle. Each year, they can lay eggs from 2 to 5 times, with each clutch containing 40 to 50 eggs. These adorable baby turtles hatch after about 60 to 90 days, but thanks to the skilled hands of humans, the incubation period can be shortened to just 30 to 40 days. Every day, this farm sees up to 7,000 baby turtles hatching, a truly impressive number. After hatching, the baby turtles are transferred to water tanks to ensure they grow healthy and avoid injuries. After being carefully nurtured, the baby turtles are released into a vast grow-out pond, where they can swim freely and develop naturally. To ensure uniform growth, the turtles are raised at appropriate densities and closely monitored. Soft-shelled turtles are omnivores. They enjoy a diet that includes fish, insects, and aquatic plants. In particular, specially formulated pellets for turtles are very nutritious and convenient. Watching them eat looks quite appetizing, doesn't it? Soft-shelled turtle ponds usually have a depth of 1 to 1.5 meters, with a mud layer at the bottom maintained at 10 to 20 centimeters. This helps the turtles feel as if they are living in their natural environment. The ponds are often located near rivers or canals to ensure a continuous flow of water, keeping the water environment clean. An interesting fact is that soft-shelled turtles also love basking in the sun. These farms are designed with gentle slopes so the turtles can crawl up onto the shore, enjoy the sunlight, and even find places to nest. Do you see those high walls around the ponds? They're there to make sure the turtles don't escape. After about 12 to 16 months of nurturing, when the turtles have reached the desired size, farmers will begin harvesting. Harvesting soft-shelled turtles requires using nets or scoops to avoid injuring them. Choosing the right time for harvesting is also important, and it's best to do so during the dry season to avoid the impacts of weather conditions and ensure better turtle quality. After transportation, cleaning and sorting the turtles is an important step post-harvest. This ensures that the turtles meet hygiene and quality standards before being sent to the market. The price of turtles is determined based on their classification by size, weight, and age. In addition to soft-shelled turtles, other turtle species in China are also farmed to meet market demand. This species is extremely nutritious and has many other significant benefits, which is why the demand for its consumption is very high. The turtles that meet the standards will be transferred to factories for processing and preservation before being sold. In the factories, workers operate continuously to ensure a sufficient supply of soft-shelled turtle meat for the market. With its delicious flavor, soft-shelled turtle meat can be prepared into many enticing dishes, including soups, stews, and stir-fries. Its rich texture complements various spices and ingredients, making it a popular choice in many Asian cuisines. So we have had an exciting journey exploring the breeding of soft-shelled turtles, a species that once faced extinction but has now become an important part of agricultural economies in Thank you for joining us on this exploration. Don't forget to like and subscribe so you won't miss our next exciting videos.