Chairman Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) has urged the Competition Commission of Pakistan to take notice of the propaganda by some sellers of chicken that they are selling hormone-free chickens, which implies that all other chicken available in Pakistan are given hormones.
Chairman PPA Khalid Saleem in a statement issued here Tuesday said that PPA categorically states that each and every chicken produced in Pakistan is free of any such substance and no hormone is given to them either through feed or by any other means. 'We are not aware of any pharmaceutical company producing or selling or promoting the use of hormones or steroids for chicken, this can be verified from pharmaceutical companies,' he added.
Pakistan produces over one billion broilers per annum, said Khalid, adding that if hormones and steroids were being given to 1 billion chickens the customs import data would have very clearly shown the colossal imports of hormones and steroids into the country.
He said lately a chain of shops has sprung up in Lahore claiming to be selling chicken free of hormones and steroids, while the fact is that they are selling the same farm raised chicken on exactly the same commercial feed as used by the farmers and this feed can be seen in front of the birds in their shops as well.
'The claim of the said companies of growing free range chicken is a great misrepresentation of fact as a closer look on their websites will show complete poultry houses in the background. Chicks cannot survive in the open at less than 20 C or more than 40 C. They are shown outside only as a photo session, which can be seen on their website,' added Khalid.
He said these farms invite people for a visit through their aforesaid social pages but never take you for a visit. 'It's simply a marketing gimmick. The mala fide intent of the companies are proved by the fact that the same skinless whole chicken that is sold in the market at Rs 217/Kg these claimants of selling hormone free chicken are selling their so-called hormones free chicken at Rs 499/Kg only to prove its superior quality and taking consumers for a ride,' said Khalid.
Chairman PPA said the rapid growth of hybrid chicken is made possible by only three genetic research companies of the United States which carry out constant research in genetic selection for best cross for an annual weight gain of 1% and an improvement in feed conversion ratio with improved disease resistance to produce the most economical meat.
'Modern poultry houses have completely controlled environment houses fitted with fans, lighting, heating - all to provide necessary environment for the chicken to perform at optimum genetic potential. Rate of air exchange, temperature of the house, etc. are automatically adjusted by the computer with the age and weight of the chicken on a daily basis,' added Khalid.
In the field of nutrition, he added, a critically balanced diet is fed formulated on a computer to give in balance energy, protein and essential amino acids such as Lysinse, Methionine, Cysteine, Tryptophan, Isoleucine, Threonine, Valine, Arginine, etc., while in the scope of nutrition, vitamins such as Vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, B12, D, E, K, Niacin, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Choline Chloride, etc. and minerals such as, Calcium, Phosphorous, Sodium, Potassium, Ferrous, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Selenium, Cobalt, etc. are ensured to meet the requirements.
'A deficiency or an imbalance of any one of the nutrients would defeat achieving the optimum genetic potential.
Today's chicken diet mostly constitutes of corn, broken rice, wheat bran, rice polishing, corn by-products, oil seed meals such as Soybean, Canola & Sunflower meal, and vegetable oil, etc. All animal by-products would be avoided by a knowledgeable producer as these are poorly digestible by the birds and thus less economical for the farmers.
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