Uplifting the lives of Filipino farmers

MANILA, Philippines - In the burgeoning poultry business, contract-growing is an opportunity for backyard farmers to gain access to knowhow necessary to foster a flourishing poultry farm while in turn allowing corporations to source their poultry locally.

Vitarich Corporation, one of the country’s top producers of animal feeds which has branched out into the poultry business via their hatcheries, Halal-certified dressing plants and Cook’s Dressed Chicken, champions the trend of contract-growing as a large part of its corporate social responsibility program.

Through its Supplemental Broiler Growing Program, Vitarich provides small- to medium-sized entrepreneurs with everything they need to start their own poultry farm. Farmers provide the basics: housing, manpower, electricity, water, and miscellaneous expenses, and Vitarich provides the essential and more technical aspects like feeds, support, vaccines, tech services, and of course, day-old chicks.

Since the chicken breed is a most important variable in ensuring a strong and healthy flock, Vitarich uses world-renowned Cobb broiler chicks, which are superior due to their good initial body weight, excellent growth rate, stronger immunity, low mortality rate, lower cost of brooding. They also grow to become the customer-preferred round double-breasted meaty broilers with big short legs.

Vitarich employs a strict process of quality control from hatchery to delivery. The company regularly sends out highly-trained farming specialists that assess the feasibility of each project and other details that directly impact the general flock health and management.

Apart from conducting regular seminars on the latest advancements to provide tips on proper brooding management, regular farm visits are also held to make sure that everything is in excellent shape. Vaccinations and a biosecurity plan are provided for each farm, too.

Vitarich also helps with accounting, recording, administrative procedures, and logistics support. When the chickens are ready, Vitarich harvests the flock and handles the final marketing of the finished products.

Hitting two birds with one stone, the program allows entrepreneurs to operate their own business while also giving large corporations a home-grown source for their world-class products.