Chennai: Alleging that manufacturers are indulging in unfair feed practices to increase the weight of retail broiler chickens, vendors have threatened to suspend sales from July 31. While govt norms stipulate that broiler chicken must not be fed 8-12 hours prior to slaughter, traders say the rule is hardly adhered to.“Broiler producers, where poultry is collected and fed in bulk, repeatedly feed the birds until they are loaded onto the trucks, resulting in a weight gain of at least 100g a chicken. While the additional feed will cost ₹3 to ₹4, traders are charged ₹10 to ₹12 for the same weight. The cost is further inflated when traders bear logistical expenses. These costs are then passed on to wholesalers, retailers and then to consumers,” said B Durairaj, president of TN Chicken Traders Federation.A decision on closing the shops in Chennai will be taken on Wednesday, said traders, adding that the city consumes about 1.24 crore kilograms of chicken daily.“There is also the hygiene aspect to consider. Repetitive feeding results in improper digestion, with the feed remaining stuck in the liver and throat of the birds. Additionally, the birds excrete during transportation, which causes retailers and traders to spend time and money on cleaning. This cost is also passed onto consumers,” said Pramodh, member of Chennai Poultry Wholesalers Association.Durairaj said that hotels and retailers have been intimated about the strike and asked to plan accordingly. “The stir is intended to make broiler producers comply with safe feeding practices, which they had agreed to in 2024 after govt passed the order,” he added.Animal husbandry department secretary Anu George did not respond to TOI’s calls and messages.
