THE livestock subsector, which recorded remarkable growth in 2018, is estimated to have contracted by 8.1 percent, in the first half of 2019 as a result of a decline in broiler meat production and, to a lesser extent, milk production, which fell by 8.2 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively.

This is according to the Finance Ministry’s 2019 Mid-Year Report.

The report noted that the contraction in the former was due to a supply imbalance of a large producer, who reduced output so as to run down stocks.

Subsequently, the report noted that there was a shortage in the supply of chicken on the local market, and Livestock Production efforts to address this have been hampered by poor hatchability of eggs and the stunted growth of chickens.

“Beef and pork production continued to make steady gains, growing by an estimated 37.6 percent and 40.9 percent, respectively. This was on account of the ongoing artificial insemination and training programmes, which have helped to improve animal productivity, as well as an increased number of farmers involved in animal production,” the report underscored.

The output of table eggs also benefited from more farmers becoming involved in this activity, which has increased the national laying flock.

In the first half of 2019, the midyear report stated that imports of layer chicks and eggs grew by 25 percent and 186.7 percent, respectively, to reach 45,000 chicks and 129,000 eggs.

At the same time, many birds are currently in the laying stage, which has resulted in production rising by 51.4 percent, at the end of the first half.

The livestock subsector is expected to grow by 0.7 percent in 2019, with the expectation that the supply of broiler meat will expand in the second half, as private producers take corrective action to meet the current shortfall in the market.

The report stated that, despite this expected increase in production in the second half of 2019, the anticipated outturn is 1.6 percentage points lower than projected in Budget 2019.