AN IMPORTANT EXPERIENCE TO SHARE

VETERINARY and TRAVEL/SHIPPING PERMIT... Where is it?

Last year, November 24, 2010, I got the replacement of the 182 day-old layer chicks for the mortalities we got last December 7, 2009 from the 700 day-old layer chicks imported from Dominant CZ.
Q - What I look for from the delivery man after counting the chicks in the box?
A - The Veterinary Certificate and Travel/Shipping Permit from Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).
None! The delivery man simply said "I don't know that... Our office (supplier) didn't give anything..."

Yes dear free-range chicken growers out there, at the height of alarming scares with the A-H5N1 (Avian Influenza) and other avian diseases, a veterinary certificate that the chicks they are giving us are of good health condition and free from any diseases, and the travel or some refer to as shipping permit are two very important documents you should look for from your supplier. Any supplier, weather a poultry supply or a respectable veterinarian knows it very well, not just an ordinary note  that says "RECEIVED IN GOOD ORDER AND CONDITION".

BUT, this incident I have experienced, from a supplier to Pamora Farm for the last 2 and half years, is somewhat unbelievable! For the last 11 years we've been doing the free-range chicken production, we have learn our lessons and experiences, that even costs us very much. Our farm is located in Abra. From Manila to Abra, we have 3 quarantine checkpoints...
One in Tarlac; One in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur; and one at Ilocos Sur-Abra boundary. Each of quarantine checkpoints look for travel documentations. No travel document may even result to confiscations!

Since I have learn my lessons through experience for the last 11 years and a little over :), I have prepared a simple certification, should the delivery man fail to provide me a veterinary & travel/shipping permit. I will just let him to sign the certificate I have prepared so my drivers traveling to Abra have document to support our traveling of said chicks... The delivery man refused to sign and said he was ordered by their office not to sign anything... No responsibility from supplier's part?... Not a good at all!
Where's the veterinary certificate and travel permit then? Tsk Tsk Tsk...
Calling the attention of Bureau of Animal Industry!

What I did, I just put a note in the certificate that "refused to sign".
For the record, it was distributed on the quarantine check points we passed on our way to Abra.

Dearest fellow free-range chicken farmers, always look for veterinary and travel permit from your supplier, traceability is very important and assurance too that you are always given a good quality chicks!