Development of Low Cost

Methods to Farm

Swiftlets

Definition & Issues

“Swiftlet farming” can be defined as a production system of edible bird’s nests

using specifically-designed buildings for the swiftlets to roost and nest. Just like bees, the swiftlets are free to roam and forage

anywhere outside, only returning to roost at night.

Lim, C., K, Edible Bird’s Nest: Swiftlet

Farming in Specifically-Designed

Buildings, The Ingenieur, April 2007, pp.

19-23

Issues

• Lucrative industry which attracts non-sustainable practices with those trying to maximise returns

• High failure rates of 70-80%• One of the fastest growing indusries in S.E. Asia• No accepted code of practice• Lack of opportunity for “low income groups” to

benefit from the industry• Lack of research into breeding biology of the

swift, low cost farming methods, etc• A number of “unknowledgeable” advisors and

consultants in the industry.

Objectives

• To understand swiftlet nesting behaviour under captivity more thoroughly

• To develop low cost methods of swiftlet farming

• To research and develop sustainable practices and promote a code of practice

• To disseminate this information to rural communities

• To look at potential breeding practices

Swiftlet Behaviour

Swiftlet Distribution

Collocia Aerodramus

Collocalia esculenta

Glossy Swiftlet

Collocalia linchi

Cave Swiftlet

Aerodramus francicus

Mascarene Swiftlet

Aerodramus infuscatus

Moluccan Swiftlet

Aerodramus mearnsi

Philippine Swiftlet

Aerodramus unicolor

Indian Swiftlet

Natural Habitat

Swiftlet Farming & Processing

Objective and Process of swiftlet farming

Swiftlet Nesting

Collection

Sorting and Cleaning

To the Consumer

To the Consumer

Market size unknown but rapidly growing

Future Products

Market Size

World market estimated at 500 Tonnes

USD 735 Million

Production

Indonesia 250 Tonnes

Thailand 100 Tonnes

Vietnam 100 Tonnes

Malaysia 50 Tonnes

Number of Swiftlet Houses

Malaysia

Post WWII Formal swiftlet farming (1950-90)

Acoustic techniques 1995

1997 150 houses

2000 800 houses

2003 7000 houses

2007 10000+ houses

Significance to Thailand Economy (Agriculture Industries)

Rank Industry Exports (USD) 5 years Growth

(%)

Last Years Growth (%)

1 Natural rubber and similar natural gums 3694645 179% 8.2%

2 Crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic invertebrates 2496774 24.1% 10.9%

3 Rice 2321682 47.1% -13.7%

4 Pearls and precious or semiprecious stone 989895 76.94% 17.59%

5 Meat and edible meat offal, prepared or preserved, n.e.s. 878513 122% 36.58%

6 Sugars, molasses and honey 798453 4.34% -8.4%

7 Edible products and preparations, n.e.s 788382 127.7% 25.6%

8 Fruit, preserved, and fruit preparations (excluding fruit juices) 656935 56.9% 10.9%

9 Paper and paperboard 571437 54% 22.77%

10 Starches, inulin and wheat gluten; glues 535797 73.41% 10.3%

11 Feeding stuff for animals (not including unmilled cereals) 498150 83% 15.1%

12 Fish, fresh (live or dead), chilled or frozen 475850 24% 12.6%

13 Fruit and nuts (not including oil nuts), fresh or dried 282298 56.9% 19.35%

14 Vegetables, roots and tubers, prepared or preserved, n.e.s. 254699 40.4% 4.76%

15 Crude vegetable materials, n.e.s. 147587 55.2% 8%

16 Raw and Refined Birds' Nest 147058 400% 25%

17 Milk and cream and milk products other than butter or cheese 143886 43.24% 4.86%

18 Fixed vegetable fats and oils, soft, crude, refined or fractionated 97060 46% -25%

19 Tobacco, unmanufactured; tobacco refuse 63220 10.71% -10.53

Sources: International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO

Pattani

An established urban industry

CS Pattani Hotel “A reversal of the theory”

PerlisMalaysia

A Rapid Growth Industry

Rural Birdhouses

A relatively new “birdtown”

Pak Panang

The Bird City of South East Asia

Up to USD 5 Mil Investments (many Malaysians and Singaporeans)

Ranong

An emerging industry set for rapid growth

Industry Just Starting in Hat Yai

Beliefs and Aspects of the Birds House

Industry

Chumpon

Big capital investment

Bird Cities

Conventional Thinking Based on Observation

Swiftlets are at home nesting on many different materials in “unrecommended”

conditions

The classic style (unofficial industry standard)

Our Hypothesis

Appears Swiftlets like to nest near people

Do not have to be massive buildings

Not necessary to construct using materials and methods most

“consultants” are recommending

Basic P

atta

ni B

ird H

ouse

Layo

ut

10 Feet

18 Feet

36 Feet

12 Feet

8 Feet Top V

iew

3 Ft 3 Ft

6 Feet

5 Feet

9 Feet

23 Feet

End View

14 Feet

8 Feet 1 Ft

9 Feet

23 Feet

Side View

Top V

iew

(Rein

force

ments)

Materials

Variables

Success or Failure

LocationSelection of

position

Entry and exit into house, if no nesting

If no entry/exit

Acoustics Position

Reach Distance

Recording source

Monitoring of population in area

Temperature Humidity Boards Inside Acoustics

Design

Risk Management

Code of Practice

Land DevelopmentMaterial Cost

• Clay• Sand

• CementLabour Cost

Risk Management

• Proper survey of area before building

• Construct proper conditions for nesting

• Use correct acoustics (part of project will be to record bird sounds for distribution)

• Sustainable harvesting

• Prevent predators entering

Power Supply

The next stage would be to build swiftlet houses from pre-cast ferro-cement sheets which

could be assembled on site.

This building method could support 2 story construction