February 14, 2007

Corn shortage threatens Turkey's poultry industry

Although animal health experts are concerned that the bird flu situation in Turkey would spread to humans, corn shortage is now a bigger concern than the feared disease, at least for chicken farmers.

The more immediate problem for the sector is the current corn shortage, said Emre Bor, general manager of poultry-based food producer, Şeker Piliç.

High corn prices have worried chicken farmers and they are now hoping imports would relieve some of the pressure.

As for bird flu, The Healthy Chicken Information Platform (STBP) President, Zuhal Daştan, noted that steps such as keeping poultry indoors were being taken to protect poultry from the external environment, thus cutting the risk of infection.