The Hindu Business Line : Broiler price softens as offtake declines

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Coimbatore Feb. 20 After ruling above Rs 40 for nearly a month, live chicken prices have slid below Rs 38 per kg in the market. The slacked chicken market, particularly the slowdown in consumption in the neighbouring Kerala which gives volume sale for the Tamil Nadu broiler producers, has chimed the arrival of the bearish phase for the chicken consumption to be witnessed normally during end-February and March, the chicken market sources said.

"We may not see much surge in live birds prices over the next forty days because of the austerity being followed among the consumers during the pre-Easter days,' said Mr Lakshmanan, President of the Palladam-based State Broiler Coordination Committee.

Easter austerity

The more-than-a-month long austerity to be observed by the Christians prior to Easter which is to fall in the first week of April will spell fall in consumption and the Tamil Nadu broiler suppliers to Kerala market would factor a drop of 10-15 per cent in demand during this period.

The BCC has reset the wholesale price this week at Rs 38 a kg compared with last week's Rs 40 plus in view of the softening of demand. The broiler producers managed to have the live bird prices fairly higher between January 20 and February 15 at above Rs 40. The price, in fact, touched the highest at Rs 46 between February 10 and 15 before declining. On the contrary, the table egg prices in Namakkal region continued to remain firm at Rs 1.85 a piece amidst sustained consumption demand.