There might be a shortage of chicken, but pork will be sufficient in Negros Occidental during the Christmas holidays.

Dr. Antonio Utzurrum, Negros manager of Bounty Agro Venture Inc., said yesterday their supply is limited and they might not be able meet the demand for chicken especially this coming Christmas weekend.

I cannot speak for all, but (on our part), we have limited supply, he said.

Ramon Conlu, account specialist of Vitarich Corp., echoed Utzurrum's concern, saying they also expect a shortage in chicken supply although only minimal.

On the other hand, Albert Lim, president of the Negros Occidental Hog Raisers Association, said there will be enough pork for the holidays.

“Christmas will be bright and merry for the consumers as there will be sufficient supply of pork,” Lim said, adding that prices will also remain stable despite the higher demand for pork.

Pork is still sold at P120 to P130 per kilo in wet markets, he said.

But Lim said hog raisers could not rejoice because farmgate prices of pork are as low as P70 to P71 per kilo, and they have to be efficient in their operations to make money, he said.

CHICKEN PRODUCTION

Utzurrum said that despite the higher demand for chicken this Christmas, the volume of their harvest have remained the same thus a shortage is expected.

Unlike in the past when they have stocked up excess supply for December, they failed to do it this year because of the shortage in July and August, he said.

At present, the four major poultry producers and backyard raisers sell 35,000 to 40,000 heads of chicken daily in Negros Occidental.

Dressed chicken retails at P105 to P120 per kilo in Bacolod City but could reach as high as P130 outside the city, he said.

But with limited supply, Utzurrum said, retail prices could increase by 20 to 30 percent in the coming days.

Both Bountry Agro, the second highest supplier of chickens in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City , and Vitarich are members of the Poultry Association of Broiler Integrators in Negros Occidental.

Vitarich produces 15 percent of the local chicken supply and sells this to retailers in wet markets in Bacolod City , Conlu said.

The two other members are San Miguel Food Inc., which produce more than 50 percent of local chickens under the Magnolia brandname, and Swift Foods Inc.*NLG

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