With the bird flu threat causing heavy losses in the last few days, the poultry industry in Telangana has begun a fire-fighting exercise, saying the virus has been curtailed in the State.
It seeks to downplay the incidence and possible impact on human health.
The Government has culled about two lakh birds, both broilers and layers (egg laying birds), in a radius of one km around the poultry farm that was hit by the virus first a week ago.
Leaders of Telangana State Poultry Federation, Poultry Breeders Association (Telangana) and National Eggo Co-ordination Committee (NECC) addressed a media conference here on Tuesday to allay fears.
Control measures “The Government officials have got all the birds in a radius of one km and have collected samples of over 12,000 birds in a radius of nine km in the surveillance zone. The virus has been contained and there is no need for worry,” G Anand, General Manager of Venkateswhara Hatcheries, said.
Sales dip The ₹10,000-crore poultry industry suffered heavily ever since the incidence was registered a week ago in a poultry farm in Hayathnagar mandal. Sales dipped in the ranges of 20-60 per cent in some areas, depending on the proximity.
The State is a top player in the poultry industry with a broiler population of 2 crore and production of 3.5 crore eggs a day.
The State is the hub for the poultry industry in the country with over 60 lakh breeders catering to farms in different States.
Lower prices “As it is the industry was reporting lower prices than the threshold prices. The bird flu outbreak only added to it. We are hoping to overcome this in the next one to two weeks,” he said.
Telangana State Poultry Federation President Errabelli Pradeep Rao said that the virus died when cooked at temperatures beyond 70 degrees.