Poultry raisers recovering from bird flu outbreak

DAGUPAN CITY , Philippines  —  The head of Samahan ng Industriyang Agrikultura (Sinag) said poultry raisers whose produce were affected by avian influenza are now recovering from the setback that hit them last month.

During the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (Pangasinan chapter) forum, Sinag chairman Rosenda So said prices of poultry products are back to normal.          

He said there was a glut of oversized chicken in cold storage due to a temporary scare brought by the avian influenza nationwide.

There was abundant supply of 1.6 to 1.8 kilos  each of chicken instead of the one kilo each normally raised for 28 days, he said.

Those that weighed up to 1.8 kilos each chicken are grown up to 45 days, he added.

“The ones preferred by consumers are one kilo each and maybe, they are left unsold because of the buying power of consumers,” he said.

“If it is more than one kilo, they don’t buy them,” he added.

He said consumers are not keen on buying chicken cut outs. 

 Live weight of chicken went as low as P32 a kilo at the height of the bird flu outbreak in poultry farms in Pampanga, So said.

“The price has recovered now and we have checked that in the markets,” he said.

 So said about P26 billion was lost across the country due to the avian influenza outbreak.