Impact of AI Causes 14.7% Drop in Laying Hens in Q1... "Egg Prices to Rise for 4 More Months"

'2021 1st Quarter Livestock Trend Survey Results'
Duck Farming Decreases Most Significantly

Due to the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI), the price of a carton of eggs has surpassed 6,000 won. According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) on the 11th, the retail price of a carton of eggs was recorded at 6,082 won as of the 8th. As the spread of AI shows no signs of slowing, concerns are rising that the prices of chicken and eggs, which affect meal costs, may increase further. On this day, citizens are seen examining eggs at a large supermarket in Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] The scale of laying hen farming in the first quarter of this year decreased by 14.7% compared to the fourth quarter of last year. Among major livestock, duck farming saw the largest reduction in scale.

According to the '2021 First Quarter Livestock Trend Survey Results' announced by Statistics Korea on the 22nd, the number of laying hens was 62.11 million, a decrease of 10.701 million, or about 14.7%, compared to the same period last year.

In particular, the number of laying hens aged six months or older, which start laying eggs in earnest during this period, was 46.097 million, down 9.127 million from December last year.

Statistics Korea explained, "The number of livestock decreased due to damage from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)," adding, "Since it takes at least five and a half months to raise hens before they lay eggs, egg prices are expected to maintain an upward trend for the next three to four months."

With egg prices rising sharply recently, this decrease in the number of laying hens is also considered to have had an impact.

The number of broiler chickens was 96.361 million, increasing by 12,000 compared to the same period last year and by 1.527 million compared to the previous quarter.

Among major livestock such as cattle, pigs, chickens, and ducks counted by Statistics Korea, the scale of duck farming decreased the most.

The number of ducks farmed in the first quarter of this year was 3.919 million, a decrease of 4.269 million (52.1%) compared to the same period last year.

Statistics Korea explained that this was due to a decrease in the number of breeding ducks and the stocking of meat ducks.

The number of Hanwoo and Korean beef cattle was 3.327 million, down 129,000 compared to the same period last year, and dairy cows decreased by 3,000 during the same period.

The number of pigs was 11.147 million, a decrease of 62,000 compared to the same period last year.

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