The main animal feed sources in Vietnam are rice bran, rice straw, sweet potato, sugar cane, garden by-product and natural grasses. The majority of the rural population are considered to be farmers, 75% of them practice animal husbandry of which 95% includes animal production with local breeds or crosses. Local breeds or crosses produce 80% of meat and 75% of eggs. Animal production accounts for 20–25% of the total agricultural production. Pork represents 70% of domestic meat consumption.

Low external inputs are associated with the use of natural resources. Such types of natural resources as local breeds of animal are highly respected and used in a sustainable way. Uriu cattle survived the mechanisation in rice production due to the fact that the rice fields of Nghe An are full of rocks. Dong Tao chicken keeping is increasing thanks to the gourmet tastes of exigent Vietnamese consumers. Bau Qui ducks were maintained by Vietnamese of Thai ethnic tradition who killed all animals different from their breeds coming from other parts of the Quy Chau mountains, while the I pig faced the risk of extinction due to the priority given to imported pig breeds for intensive production. The tenacious and strongly built Mong Cai pig is a feature of households in semi-intensive production.