September 28, 2010
Philippine fighting cock industry to grow by 20%
The PHP50-billion (US$1.13 billion) Philippine game fowl industry is expected to grow by 20 percent in this year due to parent stock imports and excellent game fowl breeding, the foremost group involved in the business said Sunday (September 26).
Manny Berbano, vice president of the 5,000-member Federation of Gamefowl Breeders Inc., said the Philippines is touted to be the mecca of the game fowl industry as the country is flooded with export inquiries from neighbouring countries Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand
Annually, the industry has 30 to 40 million game cocks, 10 to 12 million of which are groomed for derbies, he added.
The volume of game fowls pushed multinational companies to invest in feeds, vitamins, and equipment in the country, he added.
Berbano said the industry is now projecting that vitamin suppliers for game fowls would grow by 50 percent and the formulated feeds manufacturers by at least 15 percent.
In 2002, the government lifted the restrictions imposed on imported game fowls for breeding and international derby in compliance with the free trade policies of the World Trade Organization.
The move allowed commercial breeders to bring in an unlimited quantity of fighting cocks provided that they were willing to pay certain fees, as well as quarantine facilities and farm area to breed the animals.
