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Soaring mercury hits poultry biz; rise in bird mortality rate
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Wednesday, 10 June, 2009, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
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Poultry breeders in Andhra Pradesh are facing an increased bird mortality rate caused by soaring mercury levels, which went up to 42 degrees Celsius in May. Most poultry farms had to use water sprinklers and fans to keep temperatures low. In the process, they incurred high costs of running generators.
The farm gate price of chicken is currently Rs 68 a kg, which is considered high. But the increase in expenditure in maintaining poultry, coupled with higher bird mortality, is eating into profits, according to members of the Poultry Breeders Association, Andhra Pradesh.
According to a report in Business Standard, it is normal for hatcheries to have a bird mortality rate of 0.2% per week. The broiler parents are the worst hit and the mortality rate due to the heat is as high as 1.5-2%. As a result, production has dropped by 15%. Broiler parents weigh 3-4.5 kg, making it difficult for them to cope with the heat. Commercial broilers, which weigh around 2 kg, deal with heat more effectively.
According to sources, hatcheries have been incurring a loss of about Rs 5 per bird per month on broiler parents and 75 paise on commercial layers, which weigh around 1.7 kg. Big hatcheries are racking up power bills in the region of Rs 8 lakh per month, in addition to Rs 3 lakh for diesel to run generators, which are needed in view of the frequent power cuts. The poultry breeding industry is preparing to renew its demand to recognise it as part of the agriculture sector and for an extension of the power subsidy to bring it at par with the agricultural sector.
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