VEHARI, Jan 26: Poultry farmers have sharply reacted to the recent increase in the prices of poultry feed by millowners.

A group of farmers said here on Saturday that it would have adverse effects on broiler farming for they were already facing heavy losses due to the high cost of production.

A poultry expert, Muhammad Waqas, said due to high production cost and low broiler rate farmers were already suffering a loss from Rs6 to 10 per bird.

He said a day-old chick consumed four kilogramme feed of Rs48, with medication and vaccination expenses of Rs10, while the management cost including the rent, labour charges, electricity and wood charges were about Rs10. So the total expenses, he said, over a single bird had come to around Rs80 as against its market value of Rs70 only.

He suggested that the government should fix the rates of a day-old chick and broiler in order to save farmers from losses.

Millowners said they had left with no option but to increase the feed prices to maintain its quality due to hike in rates of raw material, ingredients and various grains used it.

Poultry farmers claimed that despite repeated increase in prices, the mills were unable to provide quality feed in the absence of any feed act in the country.

A survey conducted by this correspondent revealed that farmers were suffering most of the losses owing to the substandard feed, low quality chicks and broilers and high production cost.

LOOTED: Six robbers on Friday night looted cash, ornaments and valuables worth over Rs0.5 million from passersby on Burewala-Arifwala Road in Gago Mandi area.