Uneasiness over livestock feed

[NewsWhore]

Despite government subsidies to some livestock producers, the cost of some types of meat is increasing. Faced with 100% increases in the prices of basic feed for animal production, corn, soybeans, and vegetable oils, there are major worries in the sector. Serious thought is being given to reducing production or to increasing prices. Over the past three months the cost of producing a pound of poultry has increased from RD$15 to RD$21, and this does not include the increased cost of transporting the product to market. Pork production costs increased by RD$3 a pound over the same period. While the government subsidizes poultry producers so that the product reaches the market at RD$30 a pound, the increases in feed costs still put pressure on farmers. A hundredweight of corn has increased by RD$100 over the last year, soy beans by RD$314 over the past six months, and vegetable oils by RD$515 a ton. Vitamins and other products used for feeding animals have increased proportionately. Another fact that weighs heavily on the producers is the fact that 99% of their raw materials for poultry and pork production are imported, while a lesser proportion of cattle feed is imported. Even though supplies are duty free, the worldwide increase in the price of grains and other products has had a dramatic effect on the sector.

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