January 3, 2022

 

More than a million broiler chickens dead after typhoon hit Negros Occidental, Philippines

 

  

Typhoon Odette (Rai) killed at least 1.29 million broiler chickens in Negros Occidental, the Philippines as it whipped through the province in the early hours of December 17, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) said on December 30.

 

The agency's final report estimated the cost of damage to poultry and livestock at ₱742.4 million (US$14.6 million)

 

Floods and strong winds affected 262 villages in 29 of the province's 31 cities and municipalities, PVO said.

 

Of the cost of damage, 57.50% or ₱426.7 million (US$8.4 million) involved the deaths of livestock and poultry, while 42.50% or ₱315.7 million (US$6.2 million) covered the destruction of physical structures like animal housing and facilities.

 

The PVO placed the value of 1.3 million dead broiler chickens at ₱192.6 million (US$3.8 million); 133,797 layers at ₱61.9 million (US$1.2 million); 6,860 swine heads at ₱70.7 million (US$1.4 million); 333 cattle at ₱9.3 million (US$182,503); and 47,539 free-range chickens at ₱6.3 million (US$123,618).

 

Commercial farms sustained the highest damage at ₱207.3 million (US$4/1 million), followed by local government unit-owned farms at ₱58 million (US$1.1 million) and backyard raisers at ₱26.8 million (US$525,869).

 

Two farms operated by PVO – the Provincial Livestock Breeding Center and Dairy Farm in Barangay La Granja, La Carlota City, and the Negros First Ranch in Barangay Santa Rosa, Murcia – also incurred damage worth ₱10.3 million (US$202,107) and ₱3.5 million (US$68,680), respectively.

 

Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena told Rappler that he expects a decrease in chicken supply in the next few weeks.

 

Aside from the typhoon damage, the lack of power in the aftermath of Odette also affected storage facilities, he said.

 

Local chicken consumption in Negros Occidental, including its capital city Bacolod, is around 70,000 heads per day, said Decena.

 

The annual broiler production is more than 30 million, while monthly output is from 2.5 million to three million, he added.

  

Decena said Negros Occidental does not export broilers to other regions, as the current supply is only for local consumption.

 

Currently, the province's remaining supply is from surplus inventory, he said, which could mean an increase in prices and demand after the holiday season.

 

However, Decena said big commercial integrators like San Miguel and Bounty are expected to expand their load to help increase the chicken population.

 

He said the two companies' modern facilities withstood the wrath of the typhoon, unlike local commercial farms with structures made of light materials.

 

Decena said the recovery of these structures will take time due to capitalisation needs.

 

Prices of broilers and layers in the 6th District, the southern part of Negros Occidental, have already gone up, he added.

 

Based on latest price monitoring, one kilo of dressed chicken now costs ₱240 (US$4.71) from the previous ₱150 (US$2.94) in Kabankalan City, while the price of eggs reportedly increased by ₱0.50 apiece.

 

A 60-day price freeze on basic commodities is in effect in Western Visayas and five other regions ravaged by Odette.

 

To boost poultry production in Negros Occidental, the provincial government will continue to disperse free-range chickens to farmers' associations as part of its agricultural productivity and food sufficiency program, Decena said.

 

He said that native chickens, which incurred minimal damage from the typhoon, comprised 10% of the local market.

 

Free-range chickens or native chickens can freely roam around the farm and can feed on grasses, while broiler chickens are those that are caged and are only dependent on commercial feeds, Decena explained.

 

He said the district offices of PVO have continued to extend technical assistance to the affected backyard farmers and raisers.

 

– Rappler