October 26, 2012

 

 

Bangladesh's production of poultry birds, which are known as day-old chicks (DOC), has fallen drastically this year compared to last year.

 

Plunge in production of DOC, considered as key-input for poultry industry, is alarming for the sector now struggling hard to survive, insiders said.

 

Per week production of DOC has declined by nearly 22% to 7.2 million pieces which was 9.2 million a year ago due mainly to closure of thousands of farms following bird flu attack, said businesses.

 

The latest survey conducted by the Breeders' Association of Bangladesh (BAB) revealed the production of DOC broiler fell to 6.9 million pieces from 8.8 million a year back while DOC layer remained the same as 0.33 to 0.35 million of pieces per week.

 

Local giant Kazi Farms Ltd is on the top of list maintaining a production of 1.87 million pieces, nearly 25% of the total production. Despite a plunge in the sector, Thailand based C P Co Bangladesh Ltd showed a tremendous performance as the company produced 1.4 million pieces of DOC per week from 1.1 million pieces two years ago.

 

Naurish Poultry and Hatchery, Paragon Poultry Farm and Provita, the three big farms' production is now 0.6 million, 0.35 million and 0.55 million pieces respectively which is much lower than last year, BAB said.

 

Secretary of BAB Md Saidur Rahman Babu told the Financial Express (FE) that bird flu aftermath is responsible for the plunge in production. He said small and medium- scale poultry farms are the major buyers of day old live birds.

 

"A significant number of farms have been forced to stop their operation after being affected by bird flu. The flu also affected the hatcheries," he said.

 

Babu said the country's demand for DOC is nearly nine million pieces and the sector was almost self- sufficient in DOC, but the avian influenza has caused havoc in the industry.

 

Owner of Paragon Farm Mashiur Rahman told the FE that Paragon's production capacity fell to 0.1 million three months ago which is now improving.

 

Rahman, also president of World Poultry Science Association (WPSA) Bangladesh branch said the bird flu affected the parental stocks of birds resulting in drastic fall in the production. He expressed the apprehension that the production may suffer further if flu stages a comeback this winter.

 

Rahman informed the FE that DOC broiler is now sold at BDT25-27 (US$0.31-0.33) and DOC layer at BDT55-60 (US$0.68-0.74) per piece.

 

President of Bangladesh Poultry Industry Association MM Khan said import or smuggling of egg and DOC from India is severely affecting the local poultry farms and hatcheries. He said the government must take stringent measures to stop any kind of import or smuggling of poultry products from India as the country (India) is flu- affected.

 

"The winter season is vulnerable for poultry industry as the diseases spread mostly in this season. So, it is necessary to stop importing poultry products from a flu- affected country," he said.

 

Khan appreciated the latest move of the country's livestock department to permit import of bird flu vaccine by private sector. The Drug Administration authorities have given permission to import bird flu vaccine to start immunisation programme experimentally in Gazipur and Kishoreganj districts.

 

Positive result in the experiment will make the medicine available across the country, Department of Livestock said.

 

The number of poultry farms in the country came down to 60,824 from 114,763 in last three years following the spread of bird flu, Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association said.