Halal Broiler Processing: The Case of Bounty Agro-Ventures Inc. and the Vitarich Corporation

The study aimed to present an overview of the implementation of Halal practices in the broiler operation of Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. (BAVI) and the VITARICH Corporation (VITARICH) in Davao City. Furthermore, it was conducted to increase the awareness of consumers, producers, processors and distributors on the concept of Halal and its benefits when applied in the broiler industry. This paper used descriptive research design with a series of key informant interviews conducted with the personnel from BAVI and VITARICH on their Halal broiler production and processing practices. The results showed that the broiler processing operations of the two integrators are Halal-certified by Islamic Dawa’h Council of the Philippines (IDCP) and Mindanao Halal Authority (MINHA), and are following the Halal practices specified by the Halal certifiers. However, the broiler production operations of BAVI and VITARICH are not certified Halal but, to maintain Halal integrity of the broilers, they do not feed the animals porcine meals or feeds with pork ingredients. The lack of a unified Halal certifying body and Halal practices, and the questionable Halal credibility of broiler chicken pose the biggest concern for the Halal broiler processing industry. The limited availability, higher price and possible sources of contamination of Halal feeds were critical issues for the industry along with the limited infrastructure/facilities for Halal broiler slaughtering. It was recommended that a unification of Halal certifying organizations and standards and proper support infrastructure be established and made a priority.