Sufficient chicken supply for Aidiladha - Veterinary Dept

 

The chicken shortage is expected to be resolved in a month, according to the Veterinary Services Department (DVS).

Its director-general Norlizan Mohd Noor said there will be adequate chicken supply to meet demands for the Aidiladha celebration next month.

This was following intervention and inter-agency engagement sessions involving industry players to find out the main problems related to chicken supply, he added.

“They are committed to increasing production. We are in the recovery process,” he told reporters after the 2022 National World Veterinary Day celebrations 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 unscheduled chicken vaccination, he said. 

According to Norlizan, almost 80 percent of chicken breeders in the country use open poultry houses, which are exposed to odour and fly pollution, and only a few of them use the enclosed chicken coop system with optimal technology.

Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry secretary-general Haslina Abdul Hamid also confirmed the situation is gradually improving. 

“This thing (chicken supply shortage) is temporary. The government is doing its best to ensure 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 is always sufficient.

She added that the government has 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.

- Bernama