Intense cold taking toll on Rajshahi poultry industry

RAJSHAHI, Jan 28: At least 15,000 chickens have died failing to endure extreme cold in the past 20 days in Rajshahi district as the chilly weather persisting in the region for weeks is wreaking its havoc on the poultry industry here.
Official sources expressed the apprehension that if the cold weather continues to persist, more fowls are likely to die.
Consequently, a number of small poultry farms in the district winded up their operations, causing an inevitable rise in the prices of fowls.
On the other hand, many poultry farmers are vacating their farms by selling the birds at a lower price.
The Rajshahi Poultry Farmers' Association assessed that the farmers would have to incur loss of taka several lakhs in the prevailing situation.
Rajshahi Livestock Directorate advised the farmers to take immediate preventive measures, including lighting enough bulbs and hanging polythene sheets to prevent cold air from entering the farms.
During a recent visit to different farms in Parila union of Paba Upazila and several areas of Rajshahi city, this correspondent found dead chickens lying inside cages beside
the live ones.
Every day three to four chickens are dying in every farm since the onset of winter, sources said.
Shyamal, an employee at a farm in Parila union, said chickens are dying in the farm every day in winter. In the past two days, nine hens have died in their farm.
Mainul Islam, manager of another farm, said many of their hens have died due to chilly weather. They are seeing five to six hens die every day.
They are trying to keep the farm warm by lighting bulbs and hanging polythene sheets all around. Yet hens cannot be prevented from dying.
Talking to farmers, it was known that not only because of cold, hens are also dying due to Ranikhet, mycopasmosis, fowl typhoid, watery stomach and other diseases during this season.
On condition of anonymity, a farmer from Moslemer Mor area said seven hens died in his farm in 10 days of winter.
Describing the reason behind the death of chickens, the farmer said wind and cold are more felt in the farm as it is open all around.
Md Enamul Haque, general secretary of Rajshahi Poultry Farmers' Association, said that more than 5,000 farms in Rajshahi raise chickens of broiler, layer and Sonali species.
At least five to seven hens reportedly die in each farm every day during this winter.
Some 15,000 chickens have died in the farms of Rajshahi in the last 20 days of severe cold weather hitting hard the farmers who are already in hardships due to rising commodity prices.
He alleged that no assistance has come from the Rajshahi Livestock Directorate office for disease prevention or overcome the present crisis.
Dr Zulfikar Md Akhtar Hossain, district livestock officer of Rajshahi, said, "I have not received information that hens are dying due to cold. However, the farmers should heat the farms by lighting sufficient bulbs and hang polythene sheets to prevent entry of wind."
Dr Hemayetul Arif, deputy chief veterinary officer of Rajshahi University (RU), said, "It is not that hens are dying only because of cold. Apart from this, hens may also die due to various diseases including mycopasmosis and fowl typhoid. So ducks, hens, cows and goats have to be given extra care during winter."
To know the exact cause of chickens' death, experiment should be done, he added.

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