The Poultry Company of Holguín (Avihol) has reportedly decided to cull at least 54,000 laying hens due to the inability to feed them. "They are being sacrificed because, according to the management of the Provincial Poultry Company (Avihol) in Holguín, there is no food," a worker associated with the company told the portal 14yMedio under the condition of anonymity.
The source detailed that the culling began several weeks ago but had to be suspended when the production line at the slaughterhouse in San Rafael Adentro, located at kilometer 5.5 on the Mayarí road, broke down. However, the damaged parts have since been replaced, and the plan has resumed. The most concerning issue is that "there is no replacement; they are being culled without any substitute hens," the source added.
Historical Decline of Avihol
Avihol's trajectory mirrors that of many other state-owned companies in Cuba, which have fallen into disrepair after periods of relative prosperity. Specifically, in just four years, the company has gone from producing approximately 426,000 eggs daily and 152.6 million annually to culling birds due to a lack of feed.
"The company not only exceeded egg production and supplied the province, but it also provided services to Santiago de Cuba and Las Tunas, earning praise from former First Vice President José Ramón Machado Ventura in February 2020," notes 14yMedio.
The source revealed that in May 2023, Jorge Romero, the company's director, acknowledged that the feed crisis required urgent measures. "The current financial situation does not allow for acquiring resources to maintain the necessary conditions for the facilities, leading to the deterioration of many units, which negatively impacts this sector's production," he said at the time.
Last year, egg production in Cuba was reduced by 50% compared to 2019 when the island had twice as many laying hens. The official press has admitted that the decline is primarily due to a lack of funding for feed purchases.
Government's Response to the Egg Crisis
Amid the egg production crisis in Cuba, the island's government has turned to Colombia. The South American nation estimates that it will export 40 million eggs to Cuba this year, of which 7 million have already arrived to bolster the depressed national production. By the end of 2024, Agriculture Minister Ydael Pérez Brito reported that egg production in Cuba has decreased from 5 million daily in 2020 to 2.2 million in 2023.
Understanding the Poultry Crisis in Cuba
Given the ongoing poultry crisis in Cuba, here are some key questions and answers that provide further insight into the situation.
Why is Avihol culling so many hens?
Avihol is culling the hens due to a severe feed shortage, rendering them unable to sustain the birds.
What impact has the feed crisis had on Cuba's egg production?
The feed crisis has drastically reduced egg production, cutting it by 50% compared to 2019 levels when the island had twice as many laying hens.
How is the Cuban government addressing the egg shortage?
The Cuban government has resorted to importing eggs from Colombia, with an estimated 40 million eggs expected to be imported this year to support national production.