Two different poultry associations offered different views regarding the real numbers of mortality of birds at the farms after Saturday’s night heavy rains, according to a report in Dawn.

Abdul Maroof Siddiqui, the chairman Press and Publication committee of Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA), claimed that 400,000 to 450,000 birds of different ages (both broilers and layers) were washed away in heavy rains at farms located at Hub, Gujjo, Super Highway, Kathore, Gadab, Angara Goth, Pipri, Dhabeji, etc.

He said the transportation of birds had been suspended to Karachi due bad conditions of roads. There was no power and water at the farms. He said that prices have remained same but the impact of production losses would be evident in few days.

General Secretary of Karachi Wholesalers Poultry Association (KWPA), Kamal Akhtar Siddiqui, said that around 100,000 to 125,000 live birds died in due to heavy rains.

He added that supply from affected areas had been suspended. Mr Kamal claimed that the poultry price fixed by the association remained the same from Friday to Monday despite the short supply.

He said the retail rate issued by KWPA was 118 rupees (PKR) per kilo for live birds and PKR200 per kilo for its meat. Around 300,000 to 350,000 live birds are slaughtered daily in the city.

In the meantime, retailers fully cashed the situation by charging PKR210 to 230 per kilo for chicken meat, depending on the areas, reports Dawn.

Many consumers were complaining about some kind of injury or wound at the chest of the chicken after its slaughtering. Even many retailers had been seen issuing warning to consumers to refrain from eating chicken meat.

But Kamal Akhtar and Abdul Maroof ruled out the possibility of any kind of disease in the chicken during summer season. Birds usually get wounded during transportation from farm to the retail shops or in the iron cage due to overcrowding, they told Dawn.