AI Spreads Nationwide... "Will Respond to Prevent Sharp Rise in Chicken and Egg Prices"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] As confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) within poultry farms are spreading nationwide, the government expects that there will be no sharp price increases due to supply constraints for eggs, chicken, and duck meat. Currently, with sufficient livestock numbers and frozen stock levels, the plan is to respond to demand through cooperation with the distribution industry.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for Avian Influenza on the 8th, highly pathogenic AI was confirmed consecutively starting from a duck farm in Jeongeup, Jeonbuk on the 26th of last month, followed by a laying hen farm in Sangju, Gyeongbuk on the 1st, a meat duck farm in Yeongam, Jeonnam on the 4th, and a laying hen farm in Yeoju, Gyeonggi on the 7th. In the case of a quail farm (suspected cases) in Eumseong-gun, Chungbuk, which was reported suspicious on the 7th due to increased mortality, the H5N8 antigen was confirmed on the 8th, and a detailed test is underway to determine if it is highly pathogenic.

As a result of epidemiological investigations on five poultry farms including the suspected cases, no horizontal transmission between farms has been found so far. Furthermore, detailed tests on farms within a 10km radius of the first and second outbreak farms and epidemiologically related farms have all tested negative.

In the market, concerns are rising over supply instability due to a sharp decline in livestock numbers and culling, as AI confirmed cases have appeared consecutively in regions densely populated with major poultry farms nationwide.

However, the government assesses that the supply capacity is sufficient, considering that the overall number of laying hens is higher than usual, and frozen stock volumes of chicken and duck meat are also abundant.

As of September, the number of laying hens was 73.85 million, a 4.2% increase compared to last year, and egg production also reached 46.38 million per day, 5.7% more than last year. Broilers and ducks numbered 88.2 million and 9.29 million respectively, down 0.4% and 4.1% from the previous year, but frozen stocks were 14.67 million and 5.58 million, which is 6.8% and 13.2% higher compared to the same period.

Farm gate prices as of December 1-7 are also lower than the average. Eggs are priced at 1,120 won for 10 special eggs, and broilers are about 1,296 won per kg. These represent decreases of 5.3% and 2.1% compared to last year, respectively. However, duck meat is priced at 1,446 won per kg, a 6.7% increase from last year.

Park Byunghong, Director of the Food Industry Policy Office at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, held a briefing on AI on the morning of the 8th, stating, "As of the 7th, the number of culled birds due to recent AI outbreaks accounts for only 0.7%, 0.8%, and 3.7% of the total number of laying hens, broilers, and ducks, respectively, so the impact on supply and prices is not significant." He added, "Broilers can be shipped within about 30 days, and ducks within about 45 days. The proportion of culled birds relative to the annual shipment numbers of broilers and ducks is only 0.07% and 0.5%, respectively, so the actual impact on supply is expected to be even smaller." Director Park also said, "Along with thorough blocking and quarantine measures against AI, we will closely monitor the supply and price situation of chicken, eggs, and duck meat, and work closely with the Nonghyup, producer organizations, and the distribution industry to carefully respond to prevent any supply instability."

Meanwhile, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters is promoting focused management of migratory bird habitats (contaminated areas), strengthening quarantine measures at poultry farms, and preventing horizontal transmission between farms to curb the spread of avian influenza. In particular, surveillance and disinfection are being intensified, and farm inspections are being conducted centered on dedicated officers.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.