UBRA chairman sees possible egg shortage due to price hike of feeders

United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA) chairman Gregorio San Diego on Sunday said there could be a possible egg supply shortage with the increase in prices of chicken feeders.

In a radio interview, the UBRA chair said corn prices increased from P14 to P22 per kilogram.

"Sa patuka ng manok, by volume 50% niyan mais (For chicken feed, 50% of the volume is corn)," San Diego pointed out in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

Also, soybean prices rose from P27 to P55 per kilogram, he said.

With these price hikes, San Diego warned that in six months, there could be a shortage of supply of eggs if the price of chicken feed continues to increase.

"Tama sinasabi ng presidente namin ni Ambal na baka in six months baka magkaroon ng shortage kasi kung wala kang kasigurahan na papakain mo sa manok mo, aba'y titigil ka," he said, referring to Philippine Egg Board Association (PEBA) president Irwin Ambal.

(Our president Ambal is correct when he said that in six months, there will be a shortage because if you do not have enough chicken feed, you will stop raising chickens.)

Asked if there could be an alternative for chicken feed, San Diego explained that just like humans, chickens need the right food for their nutrition.

"Kailangan tama ang sustansiya niyan kaya ang formulation, gamit amino acids, 'yun ang maganda sa hayop," he said.

(They need the right nutrition so the formulation with amino acids should be good for the animals.)

Currently, medium-sized eggs are valued at P4.50 to P5.00 each, San Diego said. —KG, GMA News