Sufficient chicken for Aidiladha

 

The veterinary department found that the shortage was influenced by factors, such as climate change, disease, lack of workers, the use of open cages and the unscheduled chicken vaccination process. (Bernama pic)

SERDANG: The current shortage of chicken supply is expected to be resolved in a month, says veterinary department director-general Dr Norlizan Mohd Noor.

There will be adequate chicken supply to meet demands for the Aidiladha celebration next month, he said.

Norlizan said this followed intervention and inter-agency engagement sessions, involving industry players, to find out the main problems related to chicken supply.

“They are committed to increasing production. We are in the recovery process,” he told reporters after the national level 2022 World Veterinary Day celebrations here today.

From these engagement sessions, it was found that the shortage was influenced by several factors, such as climate change, disease, lack of workers and the use of open cages and the unscheduled chicken vaccination process, he said.

According to Norlizan, almost 80% of chicken breeders in the country used open poultry houses, which were exposed to odour and fly pollution. Only a few of them used the enclosed chicken coop system with optimal technology.

Meanwhile, agriculture and food industries ministry secretary-general Haslina Abdul Hamid also confirmed the situation is gradually improving.

“This thing (chicken supply) is temporary. The government is doing its best to ensure there is no shortage of chicken,” she added.

Earlier, in her speech, Haslina said the ministry, through DVS, had formulated various strategies to take care of animal welfare, including curbing livestock diseases and ensuring that the food supply from animal products was always sufficient.

She added the government had agreed to set up the National Ruminant Board to further boost the industry’s growth, especially in enhancing the country’s beef and dairy production. - FMT