In the ever-evolving food industry, broiler chicken is one of the most popular preferences. This article delves into the subject of safe broiler chicken, a key issue in the future of the poultry industry. Let's find out how this chicken farming system plays an essential role in the food industry. What is Safe Broiler Chicken? The misuse of antibiotics in broiler farming has surfaced as a global public health menace, propelling the surge in popularity of antibiotic-free broiler meat production on a global scale. In this paradigm shift, emphasis is placed on alternative methods in broiler production in Bangladesh as well. The safe broiler system prioritizes animal health, a conducive environment, and high product quality. This approach emphasizes the absence of hazardous ingredients, including antibiotics and growth hormones. It fosters a bio-preservative system and incorporates herbal supplements in animal feed. The result is poultry reared in an eco-friendly manner, embodying the essence of safety and health consciousness in every aspect of production. Consumers increasingly seek assurance in their food choices. Meanwhile, the emergence of these chickens heralds a positive shift towards sustainable, health-centric practices in the poultry industry. Read more: 10 Best Winter Teas to Fight Cold and Flu Recent Advances in Broiler Breeding Md. Shafiqul Islam, a professor in the pharmacology department at Bangladesh Agricultural University, and his associate Md. Abu Raihan Parvez has recently achieved breakthrough success in alternative broiler production. They were able to produce broilers without any form of antibacterial agents, using different types of herbal plant extracts in their laboratory. In their research on broilers, they predominantly utilized various types of herbal extracts, noting their superior efficacy compared to antibiotics. The broilers exhibited significant weight gain, and this increase was notably rapid. Moreover, the rate of morbidity and mortality among them was remarkably low. This research program, spanning five years, holds the potential for a significant leap toward the development of a more advanced poultry industry if implemented on a large scale. Read more: Microwave Cooking: 7 Healthy Chicken Breast Recipes

The government will provide support to ensure safe and sustained poultry production, said Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim on Monday. “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led government will provide assistance to whatever is needed for the development of the poultry sector. The government is also sincere in solving any problem in the sector,” he said. Rezaul was speaking at a discussion on ‘Safe and sustainable poultry production: Expectation and Plan’ held in the city on Sunday night. World’s Poultry Science Association, Bangladesh unit organised the discussion virtually. The minister said steps will also be taken to make the poultry policy modern and demand-oriented. Read: Grass-route level poultry farmers seeks government’s interference to stop commercial sale of ready broilers, layers by hatchery owners The minister also urged all to consider the matter of branding for the development of the poultry sector with utmost importance. He underlined the need for reducing the dependence on imported poultry feed. He advised the businesspeople to set up poultry feed industry in the country promising that the government will provide tax exemption for importing relevant machinery. The minister also urged the big farm owners to manage their own waste management or else consumers will lose their interest in the food produced in the poultry sector.

Grass-route level poultry farm operators have sought the government’s interference to stop commercial sale of ready broiler and layer chicken by hatchery owners. They said that several hundred thousand small poultry farmers who mainly operate their business at grass-route level, cannot sustain because of the commercial selling of ready broiler and layer chicken by the big poultry owners. They also placed 8-point demands to resolve their prevailing crisis in business from a discussion meeting at the National Press Club on Sunday. Kazi Mostafa Kamal, secretary general of the Bangladesh Grass-Route Level Poultry Farmers Unity Council, placed the demands at a discussion meeting titled: ``Miseries of Grass-Route Level Poultry Farmers and Way Out”.  The function, with the organisation’s president Mizan Bashar in the chair, was also addressed by Trustee of the Gana Sastha Kendro Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, Bangladesh Kalayan Party Chairman Maj (Gen (retd) Muhammad Ibrahim and journalist Mostafa Kamal Majumder.   Read: Provide emergency banking services in flood-hit areas: BB The 8-point demands of the Bangladesh Grass-Route Level Poultry Farmers Unity Council include ensuring proper monitoring of small chicks by the Department Livestock Services, billing of electricity consumption at industrial rate, fixing the price of small chicks at Tk 30-32 as per the government’s notified order of 14th March 2010. The other demands are free-supply of medicine and vaccines to the farmers to prevent the chickens from different diseases, providing soft and collateral-free loans to small-scale poultry farmers bringing them under a cooperative, and building shops at specific places in bazaars at every upazila to facilitate selling of the products by small farmers. Kazi Kamal alleged that the small-scale farmers at grass-route level have been experiencing an anarchy-like situation for the last 12 years as they have to buy at Tk 90-100 per small chick from a few big hatchery operators. The hatchery operators do not abide by the government’s order to sell the chicks at Tk 30-32, he added, saying that the price hike of poultry feeds also put them into big trouble. “As a result, many small-scale poultry farmers left the business incurring huge financial loss,” he said. Read: Air Astra prepares for IOSA ahead of commercial launch Kazi Kamal said the big hatcheries are doing monopoly business in selling small chicks at their arbitrary rates violating the government’s order. Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury urged the government to protect the small-scale poultry operators for the sake of the interest of the country.  

Poultry growers have placed 11 demands including access to easy and soft loans for the grassroot level poultry farmers through stimulus package, and checking the illogical price hike of poultry feeds and chicks. Bangladesh Poultry Industry Forum (BPIF) placed the demands at a discussion meeting, organised by Bangladesh SME Forum, at Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) Auditorium in the city on Saturday. With President of both Bangladesh SME Form and Bangladesh Poultry Industry Forum M Mamun in the chair, the event was addressed by former additional secretary Dr Sheikh Rezaul Islam, Dhaka University teacher Dr Latiful Bari, ERF general secretary MM Rashidul Islam, Borhanuddin, Abdur Rahim, Lotus Parvez, Manik Sheikh, Sujan Sarker, Tahmid Hasan and Masuma Khatun. The BPIF leaders said the poultry industry has been experiencing a severe crisis due to recent increase in the price of its raw materials including feeds and chicks. Read: Govt forming policy to safeguard poultry, dairy industries “A strong syndicate of unscrupulous business has been responsible for the recent crisis and the government should find them out to punish them,” said M Mamun. The BPIF leaders alleged that although the poultry products are selling at higher prices in the local market, the actual farmers at the grass root levels are not getting the benefit of it. Rather, a middle group is being benefited from the increased price of the products, they observed. They also said that the industry owners are not receiving due financial support from the government although a stimulus package was announced for the industrial sector. Read: Thakurgaon poultry farmers brace for huge loss Many poultry owners had to shut down their industries facing a huge loss in the business during the Covid-19 pandemic situation. The farmers are now switching to other businesses from this losing concern, they observed. They also demanded formulating a pro-industrial policy to support the poultry industry.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim on Wednesday said that the government is formulating a policy to safeguard the poultry and dairy industries of the country.