News

Egg supplies plentiful following avian flu outbreak

A fast response by producers has resulted in ample egg supplies following the avian influenza outbreak.

American Egg Board senior vice president John Howeth says America’s egg farmers rose to the challenge after high-path AI wiped out more than 10 percent of the egg-laying flock in 2015.

“For us, a very very nice recovery, but with that speed of recovery comes some supply concerns.”

He tells Brownfield U.S. exports have declined in the aftermath of avian flu, leading to an excess amount of eggs domestically.

“We’re seeing a surplus on the market these days, and eggs are now at a ten year low from a pricing perspective.  Specifically whole eggs.”

Howeth says the Egg Board is working to recover some of the lost market-share overseas, as well as promote the availability of eggs to U.S. food manufacturers.

Egg production this year is expected to top 266 billion, 14 billion more than 2015.