A Visit to Toh Thye San Farm
October 20, 2014
For Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014, Toh Thye San farm has very generously donated a flock of 100 days corn fed Anxin chickens to Tian Tian Chicken Rice to make into the Ultimate Chicken Rice!
Toh Thye San Farm is a family-owned farm that has started since 1979. They started from a slaughter house and has now expanded to poultry farming. We visited Toh Thye San’s farm in Sungei Renggam, Johor Bahru to understand more about Anxin chicken. Look at my Phua Chu Kang boots!
Anxin chicken is the first broiler from Toh Thye San Farm that is bred without the use of antibiotic growth promoters or hormones. These birds are from France and its distinctive feature is long naked neck, hence it is sometimes called “Naked Neck Chicken”. Toh Thye San rebranded it as Anxin chicken (安心) to give consumers the confidence that it is safe.
Toh Thye San Farm has 12 farms in the Sepang region – one breeder and 11 broiler farms. All 12 farms are accredited by Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), as well as the Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture in Malaysia. Many restaurants in Singapore get their chicken supplies from here. Kenny Toh is the family’s third generation farmer.
The farm rears two breeds of chickens – the commercial white broiler and the coloured broiler Naked Neck chickens (let’s call it Anxin chicken). The chicken rice we eat usually use white broiler which is slaughted between 5 to 7 weeks when their weight reaches 1.2-1.5kg. Anxin chicken, however, takes 13 to 15 weeks to grow into 2kg.
White broiler grow in low lit and air conditioned pen. They are not as active and farmers normally add growth promoters to ensure a maximum growth. On the other hand, Anxin chickens grow up in a peaceful environment under natural light and are free from antibiotics and chemical growth promoters. They take about twice as long as to be raised as compared to the white broiler, but are said to have better tasting meat.
According to Kenny, Anxin chickens feed on corn, wheat, organic selenium, vitamins, orgacids and probiotics and some five-spice flavouring. On top of that, the chickens drink distilled tap water. They are free to roam around and will stay in the same pen for entire lives so as not to stress them.
I am happy to see that the farm treats the chickens with respect and care. The chickens are not thrown around and the same herder will follow them throughout their entire lifespan. Thank you Ms Loi from Tian Tian Chicken Rice for joining us for this trip. She seems to be having fun!
You can easily recognize Anxin Chicken by a yellow band around the leg with the letters GG on them. They are definitely more expensive but I tell you, it’s worth it for the quality meat that you get. They can sometimes be found in NTUC supermarkets and sold as “Kampong Chicken”.
After the trip, we had a chance to try some of these corn fed chickens and white broiler in Tian Tian Chicken Rice. So you must be wondering, how does the taste and texture differ? Check out my blog tomorrow!
Toh Thye San Farm | Tel: 63869300 | www.oeo.com.sg
If you want to try for yourself how does Anxin chicken tastes like, be sure to drop by Ultimate Hawker Festival on 22 November 2014 (Saturday). Coupons for Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014 purchased online can be collected at TOUCH Community Services (Bukit Merah Central) or at the Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014 booth at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hall 401 during the event. For more information, please call 6377 0122 or email ultimatehawker@touch.org.sg
