Philippines DA fears native chicken extinction

Poultry specialists with the DA recently stated that native chickens have failed to sustain their potential as a steady source of meat products.
The blame seems to fall on the people’s attitude of confining the raising of native breeds to backyard farming and the rapid commercialisation of free-range chickens.

“Native chickens do not receive enough attention from their owners because they are raised more for backyard purposes than as a major source of livelihood,” said Dr Jerry Sabado of the DA’s quarantine services, adding that the effect was that generations of native chickens gave way to the massive increase in the commercialisation of free-range chickens.

According to Sabado, free-range chickens are the common broiler type that could be raised and sold in 45 days.

Dr Miriam Tiongan of the Benguet veterinary office said the province alone has become a wide market for commercially raised chickens, and that thousands of them are delivered to different outlets in the province, spinning a profitable distribution business. Sabado believes that this reality has sidelined the business potentials, and even the health benefits, of raising native chickens.

Compared to most free-range chickens, native breeds are more organically based since they do not require dosages of antibiotics and commercial feeds, says Sabado, adding that they could feed themselves on green grasses and plants, insects and other natural commodities found in the soil.

“When cooked, it cannot be denied that their meat tastes better,” he added, admitting, though, that chickens take a longer time to raise, compared to the free-range chickens.