Egg production in the province of Sancti Spíritus, Cuba, is in a critical state, with no signs of immediate improvement.
As reported by Aliesky Guevara Molina, director of the Spiritus Poultry Company, to the official newspaper Escambraythe difficulties in feeding laying hens have severely affected the supply of this basic product, leaving provincial production at zero.
“Egg production in the province of Sancti Spiritus remains at zero because the animals spent 12 days without consuming food; That deteriorated production levels, and now it is in a recovery process. We estimate that from November 10 to 15 the first productions will begin to come out, as the animals are regaining weight,” explained Guevara Molina.
The manager also pointed out that the lack of food for the birds has been a recurring problem throughout the year. Since the end of January, the chickens’ diet has suffered constant interruptions and changes in feed quality.
In this sense, he explained that in some months only rice was supplied as food, while in others it was alternated. In October, the crisis reached its peak with a period of 12 days without adequate feeding, causing a devastating impact on the productivity and health of the birds.
Chickens are sacrificed in Sancti Spíritus for not having food
These interruptions have not only affected current production, but have also forced the slaughter of between 45,000 and 50,000 chickens, many of them due to lack of feed or because they are too old to maintain an adequate level of production.
“We have tried at all costs to maintain the dough as much as possible, since there is not much replacement availability. In these 12 days, a considerable number of animals died, generally those most deteriorated due to the food deficit,” added Guevara Molina. However, he highlighted that they still have about 220,000 chickens, of which 50% are young and recovering.
Regarding the future of egg distribution in Sancti Spíritus, the official was cautious. Although they expect production to begin to normalize in mid-November, the destination of the eggs produced will depend on the Ministry of Economy, which is in charge of deciding the allocation and distribution in Cuba. “I cannot give that information because we are not distributors, but producers. Poultry companies are in a process of change and then we will know what this transformation will be like,” he clarified.
The exorbitant price of eggs in Cuba
The impact on the market is evident. In the absence of local eggs, authorized MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) have imported eggs, selling them at very high prices. A carton of 30 units can cost more than 4,000 pesos on the black market, a price that only a few can pay.
“Neither that egg is ours, nor is it the result of ill-gotten production or a diversion,” clarified Guevara Molina, emphasizing that importation at liberalized prices is a measure that allows limited availability of the product, even if it is at exorbitant costs.
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**Interview with Aliesky Guevara Molina, Director of the Spiritus Poultry Company**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Aliesky. The situation regarding egg production in Sancti Spíritus is concerning. Can you give us a brief overview of how the recent feed shortages have impacted production?
**Aliesky Guevara Molina:** Thank you for having me. Egg production here has reached a critical point, with current output effectively at zero. The feeding of our laying hens was interrupted for 12 days, which severely impacted their health and productivity. We are now in a recovery phase, and we anticipate that we will start seeing some production from November 10 to 15 as the hens regain their strength.
**Interviewer:** That must have been incredibly challenging. Can you elaborate on the nature of these feed shortages and how they developed over the past year?
**Aliesky Guevara Molina:** Yes, indeed. This has been a recurring issue for us throughout the year. Since late January, we have faced constant disruptions in the feed supply, with variations in the quality of the feed provided. For months, our chickens had only rice as their diet, and during the peak of the crisis in October, they went without adequate feeding for 12 consecutive days. This has devastated our production levels and affected the health of our livestock.
**Interviewer:** It’s alarming to hear that the situation has led to the sacrifice of so many chickens. Can you explain why this was necessary?
**Aliesky Guevara Molina:** Unfortunately, due to the lack of feed, we had no choice but to sacrifice between 45,000 and 50,000 chickens. Some were too old to sustain production anymore, and many were simply unable to survive the poor feeding conditions. It was a difficult decision, but necessary to prevent further losses and to preserve the remaining flock.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for that insight, Aliesky. As the provincial authorities look to improve this situation, do you foresee sustainable solutions to ensure a consistent feed supply for your operations?
**Aliesky Guevara Molina:** We are hopeful that with increased attention to this crisis, we can develop more sustainable solutions. It is crucial for us to maintain a consistent and quality feed supply to restore our production levels and prevent such a situation from recurring in the future.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Aliesky. We wish you and the Spiritus Poultry Company the best in overcoming these challenges.
**Aliesky Guevara Molina:** Thank you very much. We appreciate your support.
