Astana businessman breeds hedgehogs for meat

An businessman from Akmola oblast Sergei Bukushev is going to set up a hedgehog farm near Astana city, Express K. According to the businessman, he tried to breed ducks for fois gras and grapevine snails (French snails) but failed to succeed. "I want to create a new brand, do something that no one else is doing here. All the attempts to bring to Kazakhstan something that is already popular abroad are doomed. They have the technologies and traditions abroad, but we'll never be able to reach their level of quality. We have to create our own shtick," Bukushev explained. The businessman decided to produce hedgehog meat after he was treated with a hedgehog cooked by local hunters. Then he remembered the old stories of people eating hedgehogs during the war. Bukushev plans to export all the hedgehogs he can breed to foreign countries. "I don't think that Kazakhstan people will appreciate the product. Local people are too conservative. But Western European cuisine is very adoptive to everything new. I plan to promote my hedgehogs in Europe during the two coming years. France is going to be my main target," the businessman said.