March 1, 2004

 

 

Malaysian Egg Prices Fall As Chicken Demand Normalizes

 

The Federation of Livestock Farmers' Association of Malaysia has announced a drop in egg prices from March 1, 2004.

 

Federation president Lee Ah Fatt said prices had dropped between one and two sen.

Lee also said that demand for chicken has increased as confidence among consumers that local chicken was safe to eat has been restored.

 

The Veterinary Services Department said that Malaysia is still free of bird flu and that checks are continuously being carried out at bird farms, sanctuaries and shops.

 

As of yesterday, the department had checked 5,091 chicken farms, 758 layer farms, 144 cross-bred chicken farms, 778 duck farms, 363 bird shops, 31 bird sanctuaries, 490 quail and other bird farms, 577 wet markets and 273 chicken slaughter houses.

 

In Tasek Gelugor, Deputy Agriculture Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shariff Omar said today consumer demand for chicken had returned to normal.

 

He said although the demand for chicken had dropped almost 40 per cent during the recent avian flu scare, "things are now back to normal".

 

Mohd Shariff said the authorities had succeeded in persuading the people to eat chicken.

"We are happy with this development," he said after at-tending Maal Hijrah celebrations here.

 

Mohd Shariff added that the Ministry would continue to monitor the situation.

 

"We will keep tabs on the chicken and poultry farms as well as pet shops."