Starting troubles for poultry farmers
INDIA - The year 2005-06 began on a discouraging note for poultry farmers as roasting temperatures and rampant gout and raniketh (kokkera) diseases have taken a heavy toll on layers (eggs) and broilers (meat) in coastal Andhra districts.The average mortality of birds due to infections has been put at 10 per cent, the toll being 40 per cent in extreme cases. The toll due to heat waves has been estimated between 5 and 10 per cent. With no rains in sight, the mortality rate is on the rise.
Layers farmers have so far lost up to 15 per cent of income and their broiler counterparts up to 25 per cent. The paradox is that the broiler rate touches the highest point during summer, which at present is around Rs 42 per bird.
G Bucha Rao, secretary of the Broiler Farmers Cooperative Society, and promoter of a broilers farm with 3 lakh birds, told Business Standard that according to official reports, four lakh birds died till May end due to heat waves. Summer being the peak season for broilers, farmers make a profit of Rs 20 per bird.
In winter from November their profit dips to Rs 5 per bird and the other months fetch an average profit of Rs 10 per bird.
Source: business-standard.com
24 June 2005
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