Indonesia Poultry Update

Overall broiler population for 2006 is expected to be consistent with 2005 at about 840 million head. Broiler meat production for 2006 is expected to increase due to consumers preferring a bird with a larger average live weight. Broiler population for 2007 is forecast to increase 5 percent.

Poultry consumption in Indonesia is expected to increase 5 percent in 2007. Consumer confidence in chicken has come back. There is a reported increase in restaurants serving chicken in urban areas. Broiler meat consumption for 2006 is estimated at 688,000 tons or 3.1 kg/capita/year. The further development of further processed poultry products has helped in increasing consumer demand. AI in Indonesia is endemic. AI was first reported the country in late 2003 and since then has been reported in twenty-nine of its thirtythree provinces. Effective control of the disease has been hindered by lack of consistent reporting, lack of enforcement of animal movement controls and bio-security measures, and the sophistication to implement strict bio-security measures. One of the biggest problems is people that are hesitant to report outbreaks promptly.

Indonesia is currently the country with the highest reported number of human deaths from AI. Even with 48 deaths linked to AI in the country consumer awareness and knowledge are still very low. The ban on imported chicken parts implemented in 2000 is still in effect. As a result poultry meat imports from the U.S. dropped sharply and most imported poultry products came from Singapore. Turkey and ducks are the potential imported poultry from the U.S. along with processed poultry-based products. Poultry exports from Indonesia to Japan, although small in the past, were reduced to zero due to a Japanese ban due to AI.

Even though Indonesia still faces many problems due to AI, a few poultry businesses continue to expand feed meal production and breeding farm investment in anticipation of future growth in consumer poultry production. Local analysts estimate that 60 percent of the estimated 11-12 million ton capacity of the feed milling industry is currently being utilized.

In an attempt to increase efforts to fight AI in Indonesia the Indonesian government has announced a plan to vaccinate about 300 million poultry. The vaccinations are scheduled to begin next month. The government plans to have 60 million poultry vaccinated by December. The plan to vaccinate comes as the Indonesian government finds itself in the middle of harsh criticism that not enough is being done to prevent the spread of AI in Indonesia. Indonesia has also announced that it will expand the culling of backyard poultry. The country also announced that it is rolling out a widespread public awareness campaign about AI on television and radio stations.
Source: USDA/FAS/Various News Wires

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