Hyderabad: Telangana’s poultry industry is reeling from the recent bird flu fears, with several districts reporting massive disruptions — from farm closures and culling to price fluctuations and precautionary lockdowns. While confirmed cases remain limited, the impact has been widespread across the state.
Nizamabad & Kamareddy: No Cases, But Major Closures
In Nizamabad, around 30 poultry farms have shut down, while 50–60% of farms in Kamareddy have suspended operations, leading to a chicken shortage. Officials like Dr M Rohith Reddy and Dr Sanjay Kumar emphasized that there are no confirmed bird flu cases in either district. Previous suspicions were ruled out after negative lab results.
Precautionary measures have been put in place, including check posts at Kandukrthi and Salura to monitor inter-state poultry transport. Awareness drives are also ongoing to encourage scientific poultry management.
Despite closures, chicken prices have risen, and country chicken has seen a spike in demand. Meanwhile, corporate-linked poultry farms remain largely unaffected.
Medak & Siddipet: Bird Flu Confirmed, Heavy Losses
The Medak region, especially Kangal in Thoguta mandal, has seen confirmed bird flu cases, with 65,000 birds culled. Other areas like Narsapur and Siddipet also reported poultry deaths, although not all were confirmed as flu-related.
Improper disposal of carcasses, such as dumping into Manjeera river and Mallannasagar canal, raised concerns. Prices surged from ₹100 to ₹250/kg, causing heavy losses for traders and farmers alike.
Warangal: Preventive Measures in Place
The erstwhile Warangal district reports no bird flu cases, though 37 of 118 farms are currently closed as a precaution. Veterinary teams are conducting regular inspections and vaccinations. Chicken sales remain stable, even seeing a slight rise in demand.
Check posts have been set up at Eturunagaram and Mahadevpur, and local officials are on high alert.
Adilabad: Recovery in Progress
After a brief halt in February, the Adilabad poultry market is now bouncing back. Chicken prices rose to ₹200–₹220/kg, and vendors like Md Shakeel are witnessing improved sales. Supply primarily comes from Maharashtra, with earlier transport restrictions now lifted.
Karimnagar: Heat, Not Flu
In Karimnagar, officials attributed recent poultry deaths to heatwaves and humidity, not bird flu. Broiler farms closed temporarily for summer, while layer farms continued operations. Chicken prices remain steady at ₹240/kg.
Nalgonda & Yadadri: Bird Flu Confirmed
Confirmed bird flu cases were reported in Gundrampalli (Chityal mandal), Nelapatla, and Dotigudem (Choutuppal mandal). Over 1.84 lakh chickens were culled in Gundrampalli alone.
In Dotigudem, 39,000 chickens, 91 metric tonnes of feed, and 19,000 eggs were destroyed. The local market has taken a hit, with sales dropping by more than 50% for some chicken shops. Egg prices have also fallen to ₹4.50 from ₹6.
Popular brands like Vencobb, Suguna, India Broiler, and Sneha continue to supply poultry to the region, though demand has dipped.
The Road Ahead
While the bird flu scare has disrupted Telangana’s poultry sector, recovery is underway in many districts. Officials stress the importance of biosecurity, early reporting, and scientific poultry management to protect both livelihoods and public health.
Download Eggora Poultry App: https://www.eggora.com/download-app