Iran Poultry Farmers Forced to Sell Chicks as Feed Costs Rise

Poultry farmers in Iran are reportedly selling millions of young chicks because they can no longer afford feed following sharp increases in production costs linked to the war involving the United States and Israel.

According to local publication Tabnak, about 25 million chicks were sold before reaching 50 weeks of age. The figure was provided by Nasser Nabipour, chairman of the board of the Qazvin Province Laying Chicken Chain.

Nabipour said Iran’s poultry sector is facing a worsening financial crisis, with many farms at risk of shutting down before the end of the year if conditions do not improve.

He said poultry farmers are struggling with rising feed prices and high borrowing costs. Interest rates on bank loans have reportedly climbed to as much as 110 percent, making it difficult for producers to secure affordable credit.

Farmers who previously bought up to 500 tonnes of feed can now afford only 10 to 15 tonnes, according to Nabipour.

Reports also show that wages and transportation costs have increased by nearly 60 percent, while some feed additives now cost almost three times more than they did last year because of supply disruptions linked to the conflict.

At the same time, the Iranian government continues to control farmgate prices, limiting farmers’ ability to recover rising production costs.

Poultry farmers have also criticised the role of middlemen, saying egg prices rise sharply before products reach consumers, while producers are forced to keep prices low.