December 1, 2006

Canadian poultry and egg production increases amid steady consumption

Canadian production levels of chicken, turkey, and eggs have increased moderately according to Statistics Canada

Poultry production was up 3.6 percent from 2004 during 2005, according to the report.

Egg production in 2005, at 586.9 million dozen, increased 5.9 percent from 2004, mainly due to the need for re-population of flocks after bird flu struck in British Columbia.

During the first 9 months of 2006, egg production totalled 440.3 million dozen, an increase of 0.9 percent from the same period in 2005.

For September 2006, it was down 1.9 percent, compared to September of last year.

Poultry consumption was 13.7 kilogrammes per person in 2005, a slight increase of 1 percent from last year. Annual egg consumption was measured at 12.9 dozen per person in 2005, following a slight decrease in 2004.

Stabilised consumption levels are owing to the varied, easy-to-prepare and ready-to-eat poultry products, and the perceived benefits of the nutritional value of eggs. Increased use of value-added and processed egg products also led to steady consumption.

Sales of poultry meat, including turkey, were up 2.1 percent with a total value close to $1.9 billion. The value of egg sales, however, fell 4.2 percent from 2004 to US$717.2 million.