DA-7: Corn Feeds Shortage To Possibly Hike Chicken Prices Amid El Niño

A drought due to a worsening El Niño phenomenon could affect agricultural production as a shortage of corn may force prices of chicken to go up.

Dr. Raul Migriño, veterinarian of the Department of Agriculture (DA-7), said that it is highly likely that costs of commercial chicken will rise once there is corn scarcity, which is the main ingredient for chicken feeds.

“The main ingredient of chicken feeds is 50 to 70 percent corn,” bared Migriño during the recent forum of the Association of Government Information Officers-Philippine Information Agency (AGIO-PIA 7) that tackled the topic, “NewCastle Disease and Impact of El Niño to Poultry & Livestock Production.”

At present, Migriño assured there is sufficient supply of chicken in the market with Cebu having the highest production rate in the region pegged at 40 percent, followed by Negros Oriental and Bohol at 30 percent each with the remaining ten percent being produced by Siquijor.

Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, on the other hand, are part of the 29 provinces throughout the country declared by PAGASA that will be affected by El Niño.

But the most recent warning issued by PAGASA, however, is that the number of provinces will increase to 34 next month and the figure will double to 68 provinces by April.

As early as October last year, DA-7 has already conducted information caravans from town to town in the entire region to educate local government units and farmers on the impact of El Niño to crops, poultry and livestock.

“We have told the farmers to plant drought-resistant crops like cassava, sweet potatoes and yam because their by-products can also be fed to animals,” said Migriño.

Farmers were also taught on silage where the good grass is cut and preserved and kept in anticipation of the worsening drought that could wither the grass, which is the main food for cattle.

Migriño said during extreme humid weather, animals must be rehydrated at all times because a decline in immunity makes animals susceptible to various kinds of diseases including Newcastle.

Newcastle Disease, a contagious airborne virus, likely occurs during hot weather with showers in between, said the DA-7 veterinarian.

Pigs are initially vulnerable to El Niño because of their body fats and pigs in pregnancy could experience either abortion or premature delivery, he added.

Among the El Niño mitigating measures of the agency is to give free de-worming, vaccines and injectable vitamins as Migriño advised farmers to visit the nearest DA office in their area for technical assistance. (rmn/fcr/PIA7)