Chicken supply across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry is set to be disrupted from July 31, after a federation of poultry traders' associations announced an indefinite suspension of broiler sales, a PTI report stated. The Tamil Nadu Poultry Traders Federation passed the resolution during an emergency consultative meeting held on Monday, protesting against a feeding practice followed by poultry producers.

Traders allege that producers feed birds until the last moment before dispatch in order to inflate their weight, leaving consumers to pay for undigested feed. The strike is expected to shut between 60,000 and 1,00,000 retail poultry shops, affecting restaurants and households across the region. Traders' associations in neighbouring Kerala have extended solidarity to the protest.

What Triggered the suspension of Chicken in Tamil Nadu?

Federation State President Durairaj told reporters that poultry farmers have refused to implement feed-control regulations, causing financial loss and hygiene issues for both consumers and vendors.

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Traders say producers feed birds right up to the time they are dispatched to the market to artificially inflate their weight. As a result, between 100 and 200 grams of undigested feed and water remain in a chicken's stomach at the time of purchase.

"When the chicken is butchered and cleaned, this undigested feed and waste spill over, contaminating the meat," Durairaj alleged.

Government norms stipulate that broiler chicken must not be fed 8-12 hours prior to slaughter, but traders say the rule is hardly followed.

What traders are demanding?

The federation has demanded that producers withhold feed for at least 15 hours before dispatching birds for sale. It has also urged the state government and the animal husbandry department to intervene urgently and enforce standard operating procedures on poultry-rearing and feed practices.

B Durairaj, president of the TN Chicken Traders Federation, explained the financial impact to TOI: "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."

Hygiene Concerns

Pramodh, a member of the Chennai Poultry Wholesalers Association, raised additional hygiene issues. "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," he said.

Scale of the Disruption

An estimated 60,000 to 1,00,000 retail poultry shops across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are expected to remain shut due to the strike. The federation acknowledged the severe disruption this will cause and apologised for the inconvenience, stating it has no alternative but to call for the shutdown to ensure hygienic practices.

A decision on closing shops in Chennai will be taken on Wednesday, traders said, adding that the city consumes about 1.24 crore kilograms of chicken daily.

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The federation has informed hotels and retailers about the strike and asked them 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," Durairaj said.

Animal husbandry department secretary Anu George said the matter arose from a commercial arrangement between the two parties. "The govt will, however, facilitate discussions between them to find an early resolution," she said.

(Source: TOI and PTI)