Source: Small-scale farmers spur egg production | Newsday (Business)

BY MTHANDAZO NYONI

ZIMBABWE’S egg production increased by 35% to 12,6 million dozen of eggs in the third quarter of the year compared to the same period last year, with small-scale producers contributing more than half of the total output, an official has said.

He said small-scale table egg production increased by 8% to 2,3 million dozens per month, an increase of 25% over the third quarter of 2018.

“As a result, total egg production is estimated to have increased by 2% to 4,2 million dozen per month, an increase of 35% over the third quarter of 2018,” Zawe said.

He said hatching egg production from local broiler breeders averaged 7,9 million per month in the period under review, being 3% lower than the second quarter of 2019, but 32% up on the third quarter of 2018.

“Dependence on imported hatching eggs declined dramatically by 63% to 355 000 dozens per month in the third quarter compared with the second quarter. Total broiler hatching eggs average 8,3 million per month in the third quarter, which was 9% lower than the second quarter and 23% down on third quarter of 2018,” he said.

Total layer breeder stocks (growing and in-production) averaged 73 577 birds per month in the third quarter of 2019, a decrease of 2% compared to second quarter of this year, but an increase of 43% compared to prior figures, the highest since 2013.

Production of layer hatching eggs in the period under review averaged 1,1 million eggs per month, being 70% up on third quarter of 2018 and the highest since mid-2015.

Zawe boss said sexed pullet production (layer day-old chicks) averaged 253 641 per month in third quarter, an increase of 29% on prior figures.The average price of sexed pullets rose by 130% in the period under review and peaked at $9,96 per pullet in September.

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