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| Sunday, 25 December 2005 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Boiling chicken meat destroys bird flu virus by Elmo Leonard If you do not eat chicken for fear of contacting bird flu, you will effect the destruction of the local poultry industry and the loss of livelihood of the many thousands, dependent on it. But, if you eat chicken, you will be well nourished, Dr Ms Lakmali Ranatunge, quality assurance manager of the Crysbro brand of chicken, told the media. Amidst global fears of the heightening bird flu epidemic, Sri Lanka remains free of it. The boiling of chicken meat during the process of cooking, destroys the bird flu virus, making it save for human consumption, Dr Ranatunge said. The Crysbro Group comprises, Farm's Pride (Pvt) Ltd, Midland Breeders (Pvt) Ltd, and Golden Grains (Pvt) Ltd. Crysbro, set up in 1972, is one of four contenders in the local poultry industry. Today, the Crysbro brand has a market share of 20 percent of broiler day-old-chicks and 10 percent of the broiler trade, Crysbro marketing manager, Azhar Muhsin said. The company also maintains pay-back farms, where up to 2,000 birds are given at cottage level to people in the vicinity. The company surveys all operations within these farms, chairman, Mohamed Imtiaz said. Crysbro, is now the only poultry company in Sri Lanka to receive ISO 14001 environmentally safe certification. Crysbro had earlier received ISO 9001 and HACCP certifications. The certification was made by the local branch of the SGS International and Swiss accreditation body, its country director D Dharmadasa said. The ISO 14001 based Environmental Management System (EMS) consists of three "management pillars", being commitment to prevention of pollution, compliance with regulations and continual improvement, Dharmadasa said. Companies which achieve EMS certification will experience tremendous economic benefits. The company will provide the green, or environment friendly image for customers and investors, good public relations with neighbours, improve the morale of workers and have the added benefit of reduction of waste and energy bills, SGS Lanka, manager, systems and services certification, B Sumanasiri said. The company said its farms in the hill country in Gampola, amidst pollution free, green and cool mountains, ensures healthier livestock and tastier meat. The farms are in-house-vigilant, with veterinary doctors monitoring all work, round the clock, general manager, G Shyamsunthar said. The company recycles all entrails into chicken feed. It has also begun growing maize and soya for its chicken feed needs and in time will diversify into producing forage, director, M H M Hibathulla said. |
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