With only two small commercial egg-laying farms impacted by high-path avian influenza in the month of May, it seemed as though the bird flu was largely in the rear view. But in the second week of June, an almost 2 million layer farm in Colorado tested positive, bringing the total number of US commercial laying hens lost since late February to nearly 31 million—roughly 10% of the nation’s flock. In a bid to fend off any potential supply disruptions, many producers had been postponing seasonal molts and slaughters. But those rotations are now in full swing, as evidenced by the most recent Chicken & Eggs Report from the USDA. Data released yesterday by the agency shows that the percentage of birds being molted rose from a 52-week low at the start of May to a 52-week high at the start of June.

At the same time, much of the country has faced extreme heat this week and last, with temperatures stretching to more than 100° in some areas. That has led to a drop in outputs—and, in more extreme cases, bird mortality—further chewing into inventory levels...

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UB Cage Free Notice - November 22, 2021

Karyn Rispoli
Urner Barry
1-732-240-5330
krispoli@urnerbarry.com