Villa Clara, a province in central Cuba, is currently facing a poultry crisis as a result of a change in the feeding formula for chickens. The director of the Poultry Company in Villa Clara, Lázara Montes de Oca, recently admitted that there have been significant problems in the daily production of birds, leading to a decrease in egg production.
According to Montes de Oca, the issue began in February when corn, a crucial component of the birds’ diet, was replaced in the feeding formula. As a result, the egg quota for March could not be guaranteed. The chickens were being fed a formula based on paddy rice, but now the original formula has been restored to 100%.
However, it will take some time for production to return to normal levels, with Montes de Oca stating that it may take 30 to 60 days for the hens to return to laying at their usual rate on their regular diet. The age of the birds also plays a role, as a majority of the company’s bird population is in its second or third productive cycle.
Currently, the few eggs that are being produced are being allocated for social consumption, including sectors such as health, education, medical diets, and PAMI. Despite this, residents in Santa Clara have noticed exorbitant egg prices in the area.
There have been allegations of eggs being resold by Non-State Management Forms (FGNE) who have purchased them from abroad, such as in Colombia. This has led to criticism among the locals, questioning the decision to change the feeding formula for the birds during such a critical time.
In response to the criticism, Omar Vega Rodríguez wrote, “From one justification to another… what if peas freeze, what if pumpkin flour, what if feeding chickens, what if lemons, what if crocodile or ostrich meat… well, this is the story of the Good Pipe.”
The situation in Villa Clara continues to unfold as residents, officials, and experts work together to address the ongoing poultry crisis in the region.