Bird flu to increase foreign demand for African lovebirds

Part One

WHILE possible shortage on chicken- meat production first comes to mind whenever an outbreak of avian influenza is detected, the effect is also felt by a little known but equally lucrative industry—breeding of African lovebirds.

Owing to its tropical climate, the Philippines is an ideal breeding ground for the world’s smallest parrot, locally known as African lovebird, belonging to the genus Agapornis. Unfortunately, the country, being in Asia, is also susceptible to bird flu that is now wrecking havoc in Asia.

Being a parrot, the intelligence and playfulness of its bigger talking cousins is also evident to the African lovebird, traits that make it different from the more popularly known lovebird in the country but of different family, the parakeet.

While a parakeet can fetch between P300 and P500 a pair, a single African lovebird can cost from P500 up to P100,000, depending on the mutation or color and pattern of the feathers.

The country’s acknowledged top breeder, known as the Badilla brothers, is currently breeding the newest mutation with an asking price from foreign buyers of P400,000 per bird.

Price spike

EARLY this year the Department of Agriculture (DA) has declared a temporary ban on all poultry products, except from three countries and recently, has intensified its monitoring of the spread of the avian influenza virus after it reached the US. This could exert pressure on global poultry supply, resulting in stiffer competition and a price spike of processed goods.

The ban also covers other avian species, including parrots, for fear of contamination. A few years ago the DA’s Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) had to destroy hundreds of African lovebirds, originating from the Netherlands. Although the European country was unaffected at that time, the airplane transporting it made a stopover in Thailand, a known avian-infested country.

According to the DA, the agency is working hard to maintain the bird-flu free status of the country.

And the the spread of bird flu is pushing the demand for African lovebirds bred in the Philippines.

“Concern over the spread of bird flu has led to several countries placing an order for this year for 1 million birds,” said Rogelio L. Sicat Jr., an African lovebird breeder from Cainta, Rizal. “But the Philippines has a difficulty in complying because the birds tend not to mate during the summer season.”

Usually the breeding season is from June up to December, the colder months, Sicat said adding that the demand has already improved the prices of several mutations.

Mutations, species

THE African lovebird is a small stocky parrot mostly between 5.1 inches and 6.7 inches, with a large bill and a tail that is either round or square. Their average life span is between 10 and 12 years, with some living longer.

There are nine known species, with the eight originating from Africa and the remaining from Madagascar. Four of these are white-eye-ringed species: Masked or personata, Fischer, Lilian and the blacked-cheek.

The latter species have white marking around their eyes, earning them the name “eye-ring”. Others, such as Rosy-faced or Peach-faced lovebirds, have none.

The more popular in the market today that command higher prices are the Fischer and Masked, followed by the Rosy-faced.

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2017/05/21/bird-flu-to-increase-foreign-demand-for-african-lovebirds/