March 11, 2008

France's 2007 poultry recovery rate slackens
 

France's 2007 poultry flock has recovered by 9.8 percent, down 1.2 percent from 2006, according to figures released by agricultural statistics agency Agreste.

The French poultry industry is still recuperating from the bird flu outbreak two years ago, although recovery rate has slowed down slightly in 2007.

Chicks reared for meat production reached 777 million in 2007. Pullets for egg production peaked at 4 million birds per month, with total intake reaching 46.8 million in 2007.

Broiler slaughter accounted for 700 million birds and 921,294 tonnes of chicken meat was produced in 2007.

In addition, egg production is forecast to fall by 4 percent from January to March 2008, while the number of pullets coming into lay are expected to increase by April 2008.