Poultry In Indonesia

News In english: Poultry Indonesia Printing Edition, 2007 October

News In Englishwww.poultryindonesia.com. BASED on imported grandparent stock (GPS) and parent stock (PS), national potential production of broiler day old chick (DOC) in August 2007 was about 24.8 million per week, a sharp increase compare to 20.8 million, 21.2 million and 21.4 million per week for May, June, and July, respectively.

Data released by Agricultural Ministry stated that imports of parent stock in first quarter of 2007 was reached 344,709 chicks, which was three times higher compare to the same quarter in 2006. In second quarters of 2007, broiler parent stock imports reached 155,361 chicks. Grand parent stock import for the third quarter of 2007 was noted decline up to 37% compare to the same period in 2006. Import of PS in the third quarter also saw a decrease of 30% compare to the same quarter of last year.
According to the ministry, day old chick production in September was slightly decreased to about 24.5 million per week.
However, some growers have doubts on the real production of final stock DOC, as there was indication of shortage during the weeks before Ramadan. After all, the prices of DOC were also quite high with about Rp. 4,000-Rp. 4,500/chick during August and September. Some growers said that breeding companies cut their production in order to maintain the high price of DOC.
THE recent media coverage of the use of formaldehyde in chicken carcasses at two traditional markets in North Jakarta has sparked a drop in sales of broiler, according to chicken traders and farmers.
Unlike previous years where demand increased days during the fasting month, the markets were pretty quiet in the past few days. Traders usually slightly increase prices during the fasting month and the post-fasting Idul Fitri holidays, but with the issue of formaldehyde, along with recent feed ingredients prices hike that made poultry products become more expensive, the consumers decided not to shop much.
The decline of demand has resulted lower prices in broiler compared to the first week of the fasting month. In Jakarta, farm-gate live broiler was traded at Rp 9,400/kg at the third week of September, a sharp drop from Rp 12,400/kg the previous week. The weaken price of broiler was also worsen by the flood of broiler stocks from other provinces like Central Java and East Java to Jakarta and surrounded area. Jakarta and Botabek is the largest market for broiler in the country.
On the other hand, the rise of feed ingredients prices such as corn and meat and bone meal has result the increase of feed prices. Broiler feed price has reached Rp. 3,600/kg from the normal price of Rp. 3,000/kg. A 20% increased that burdened the growers as they already paid higher price for day old chick since last several months. Cost of production for broiler is now estimated Rp. 9,250/kg, another hard time for growers. With the purchasing power of the average Indonesian still suffering, consumers have to pay more in the market.
However, as Idul Fitri nears, growers expect the price might climb as it usually involves a large family feast.
INDONESIAN Veterinarians Association has proposed a new bill that would set up an integrated system involving the government and the public to curb the spread of animal-borne diseases such as bird flu.
The draft bill obliges citizens to report any animal-related illnesses in their area and pet owners to ensure their animals have regular health checks.
It would also require the government to set a list of actions to be taken in the case of a pandemic.
Olan Sebastian, the head of the team preparing the bill, said the battle against bird flu had inspired the association to propose the bill.
“We are struggling to curb the disease because we don’t have a national system to deal with this sort of thing. Our weak veterinary system also makes us vulnerable to animal-to-human diseases like bird flu,” he said.
Indonesia only has one animal husbandry law, which was set in 1967 and focuses on livestock safety. Veterinary oversight is only part of the process and as it is production oriented, it does not regulate pets or strays.
When bird flu broke out in Indonesia in 2005, the government had problems convincing residents to keep their pet and backyard farm bird healthy. Mass cullings of birds are the result of experience, rather than a national policy that is useful around the country, the association believes.
The draft bill is to be discussed with members of House Commission IV overseeing agriculture, plantations, forestry, fisheries and maritime affairs by mid-October.
A group of international health experts has drafted a three-year program for Indonesia aimed at containing the spread of bird flu. About 150 participants from 11 countries have gathered in Bali to help Indonesia improve its bird flu control measures.
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization is helping Indonesia establish community programs to make sure outbreaks of the virus among birds are reported as quickly as possible.
John Weaver, the FAO senior adviser on bird flu in Indonesia, says the country has made small gains in reducing the number of human infections during the past year. He says the key to controlling the disease is keeping people away from sick birds.
“The problem is that the disease is so entrenched that we have got a real endemic situation. So what we need to do is identify and then knock out these risk pathways,” he said.
In the mean time, chief executive of the Indonesian National Committee for Avian Influenza Control and Pandemic Preparedness Bayu Krisnamurthi said that Indonesia needs around US$ 300 million per year to fight avian influenza.
“Currently we have only around $120 million from the national budget combined with funds from international donors. So we are short of more than half the amount we need,” he said, adding the committee is trying to survive with the existing budget.
Bayu said the funding is being used to finance six strategies for Avian Influenza control, which include a public campaign, the restructuring of the poultry industry, disease surveillance in animals and humans, virus elimination at the source (i.e, bio-security, vaccination, culling and compensation), health facilities and the establishment of pandemic preparedness measures.
The committee is changing its strategy by focusing more on animals, in a move to better contain the virus.
Bayu said last year the focus on controlling the virus was equal between humans and animals. “Now, our focus is 70 percent on animals and 30 percent on humans,” he said.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono said “The restructuring of the poultry industry and transportation of poultry is currently the most important measure in controlling the spread of avian influenza. However, it is not an easy task and will take some time.”
Anton said the government was attempting to relocate chicken farms away from residences in cities as well as re-organize markets and the transportation of poultry.
“We are also setting up abattoirs so chickens would only be transported in the form of carcasses (not live birds),” he said. So far, Indonesia is still relying on traditional distribution and sale methods for poultry.