Two Months Since Highly Pathogenic AI Outbreak... Duck Prices Surge 40% in One Month

Culling of Approximately 6.17 Million Chickens, Ducks, and Quails

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] As highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) cases continue to be confirmed at domestic poultry farms, it has been reported that approximately 6.17 million chickens, ducks, and quails have been culled so far. While chicken and egg prices have remained relatively stable, duck prices have surged by 40% within a month.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on the 19th, as of 8 a.m. that day, a total of 17 cases of highly pathogenic AI were confirmed at domestic poultry farms, with 29 cases in wild birds and 1 case in ornamental birds.

The Central Avian Influenza Countermeasures Headquarters conducts preventive culling of poultry within a 3 km radius of farms where highly pathogenic AI occurs. Additionally, movement restrictions and AI mass testing are implemented for 30 days on poultry farms within a 10 km radius. All poultry farms in the affected area are subject to a 7-day movement ban.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Due to these preventive cullings, as of midnight on the 18th, the total number of culled poultry amounts to approximately 4.069 million chickens (56 farms), 1.203 million quails (5 farms), and 906,000 ducks (42 farms), totaling about 6.178 million birds.

The prices of poultry products have shown an upward trend compared to last year and the average of previous years. For broilers, as of 4 p.m. on the 18th, the consumer price per kilogram was 5,194 KRW, similar to last year (5,129 KRW) and the average from 2015 to 2019 (5,172 KRW). Compared to the previous month's average (5,217 KRW), the price decreased by 0.4%.

Egg prices have risen slightly compared to last year. The consumer price for 10 premium eggs was 1,866 KRW, up 4.6% from the same month last year (1,784 KRW) and 1.4% from the average of the same month in previous years (1,840 KRW). Duck prices have increased sharply, reaching 2,029 KRW per kilogram, a 49.7% surge compared to the same month last year (1,355 KRW) and an 11.5% increase compared to the average of the same month in previous years (1,820 KRW). Compared to the average price in November just a month ago (1,449 KRW), the price has risen by 40%.

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