Following a sharp increase in soybean meal price in the recent past, the poultry industry has decided to reduce production by a fourth to offset the surge in input costs. Soyabean meal is a key ingredient in poultry feed, and a rise in prices has led to a sharp increase in the production costs for poultry players.In a recent meeting chaired by Bahadur Ali, Chairman of the All India Poultry Breeders Association, leading poultry industry bodies including the Compound Livestock Feed Manufacturers Association of India (CLFMA), Karnataka Poultry Farmers and Breeders Association (KPFBA), Indian Poultry Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA), Telangana Poultry Breeders Association, Broiler Coordination Committee Tamil Nadu, and several other poultry organizations discussed the severe crisis facing the poultry sector due to the sharp increase in soybean meal prices.The meeting noted that soybean meal prices have risen by more than 40 per cent over the past month, significantly increasing feed costs and putting immense pressure on poultry producers across the country.Culling of breeder stocks beginsConsidering the steep rise in production costs, along with the traditional decline in chicken consumption during the months of July, August, September, and October due to festivals such as Sawan, Navratri, and Durga Puja, the industry has decided to reduce poultry production by 25 per cent with immediate effect, the All India Poultry Breeders Association said in a statement.As part of this corrective measure, culling of parent breeder stocks has commenced across the country. Breeder birds, which were earlier being sold at around Rs 140 per bird, are now being sold at nearly Rs 65 per bird in an effort to liquidate excess stock, the release said.Further, the release said that industry representatives observed that the increase in soybean prices is primarily the result of hoarding and speculative trading, despite domestic production being sufficient to meet the country’s requirements. It was pointed out that during the sale of soybean stocks held by NAFED, a small group of stockists allegedly drove up prices through speculative activities and the matter will be taken up with the Central Government, the release said.Poultry industry associations have also reiterated their demand for allowing the import of GM soybean meal to help stabilise feed prices. The industry remains hopeful that the Government will take timely measures, including permitting GM soybean meal imports, to provide relief to poultry farmers and ensure stability in the sector, the release said.Published on June 4, 2026