Damage By 'Dean' Hurting Poultry Farmers

Chief executive officer of the Jamaica Livestock Association, Henry J. Rainford, told The Gleaner yesterday that more than 100,000 day-old chicks were dumped last week as farmers affected by the Category Four hurricane were unable to purchase the poultry from its hatchery.

Mr. Rainford said that thousands of poultry farmers islandwide lost their livestock, coops and equipment.

"The problem is our customers have no where to put these chicks," Mr. Rainford said.

"We lost almost a week's supply of chicks as some 150,000 are usually sold per week to the farmers," he added.

The more than 100,000 day-old chicks, Mr. Rainford said, make up approximately 30 to 40 per cent of the country's broiler industry.

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