Bird flu continues to rage in the United States and will have long-term effects on prices, especially for eggs and turkey meat, according to a report from CoBank.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has affected 201 commercial and 229 “backyard” flocks in 39 states, comprising some 43.8 million birds. One of these is Ohio, where HPAI was reported for the first time Sept. 3 in an egg-laying operation with 3 million birds. About 40 million other birds have been euthanized through July of this year. Some 9.5% of the U.S. commercial laying flock and 2.5 of the turkey flock has been depopulated by HPAI, according to the CoBank report.
As a result, egg prices are roughly triple last year’s, and turkey breast meat has broken the $6.50-a-pound barrier – “a level that was previously deemed unattainable,” the report says.
The report warns that while egg producers may be able to make up for losses with higher prices over the short term, in the long run consumers may decrease egg consumption.
