September 22, 2010

 

Anthrax fears boost DOC broiler demand in Bangladesh

 

 

Concerns over anthrax in beef and strong demand have caused at least a temporary jump in the price of Bangladesh's day-old broiler chicks.

 

Anthrax fears among consumers have encouraged people to farm poultry more amid rising prices of chicken, but the supply of chicks is less than expected, according to reports.

 

High demand now fuels the prices of day-old chicks-broiler, and the crossbreed variety named sonali cock-in the backdrop of a supply shortage. Currently, a day-old broiler chick is sold at BDT70-80 (US$1.00-1.14) at farmer level, up from less than BDT70 (US$1.00) a month ago, operators said. However, the demand for layer chicks remains low.

 

The price of a kilo of broiler chicken rose to between BDT160 (US$2.28) and BDT170 (US$2.43) earlier, from BDT125-135 (US$1.78-1.93) a month ago, according to the retail price data of Trading Corporation of Bangladesh.

 

Traders said poultry price usually goes up ahead of Eid and declines later with demand easing. But this year, the price is still high as many consumers continue to avoid beef.

 

The price of chicken began picking up amid a gradual shift from beef after the detection and spread of anthrax in cattle since mid-August. Beef sales have tumbled, butchers said.

 

However, Syed Abu Siddique, president of Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association, said the farmers were not reaping the benefits of the rise in prices due to the high cost of day-old chicks and feed.

 

Kazi Zahin Hasan, director of a leading poultry breeder, Kazi Farms Ltd, linked the high price of day-old chicks to their demand from farmers.

 

Moshiur Rahman, managing director of Paragon Group, said the demand for day-old broiler chick would be 6.5 million a week against a supply of about 5.5-6.0 million.

 

Rahman said that the production of broiler chicks has increased a bit in the August-September period but the anthrax fear has created a sudden shortage as demand went high.

 

Meanwhile, traders said the outbreak of the disease has had a positive impact on the profitability of the poultry industry by accelerating the demand for chicken among the consumers. They said the rise in demand for chicken would encourage hatcheries to breed more chicks to allow expansion in farming.