Chicken is the most affordable meat protein on the Australian market. Thanks largely to substantial efficiency gains in all areas of chicken meat production, consumer prices have been kept low, but after falling 75% since 1960, an increase is now expected.

 

"Now, a point has been reached where prices will have to increase for the industry to remain profitable and able to meet the increased demands for its products", said Dr. Andreas Dubs, Executive Director of the Australian Chicken Meat Federation.

 

The World Bank reports that since mid-June, global grain prices have been rising, with a 56% rise in global wheat prices and knock-on impacts on other commodities such as rice, corn, and sorghum.

 

Grain represents the major input cost into growing meat chickens and thus it is obvious that the latest increase in the cost of feed, together with substantial increases in energy costs, transport and water as well as labour over the past year, must lead to an inevitable increase in the cost of chicken to the consumer.

 

Dr. Dubs said that even with the price of chicken increased to reflect the significantly increased cost of production, chicken will remain affordable in all its various forms; from whole chickens and breast fillets, to chicken mince and sausages.