UK egg supply could tighten as result of bird flu cases
© Tim Scrivener The number of birds and poultry culled in the UK because of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) has breached the 2 million mark, with the latest hit seeing 27,000 turkeys culled in Herefordshire on Tuesday, 4 March.
More than 200,000 laying pullets were culled at the end of February near Malpas, Cheshire.
Throughout February, 68,900 free-range layers were lost from the egg market, and over 1 million barn hens were culled at a single site in Shropshire in January.
See also: British egg and poultry producers under ‘extreme pressure’
Cases of the H5N1 virus have now also been reported in Northern Ireland, resulting in 64,000 free-range layers being culled near Dungannon in County Tyrone.
Eggs from free-range hens are estimated to make up 72% of the total UK market and the UK retail egg market is reported to be worth £1.9bn in sales value (2024 industry estimates).
Asked if the UK is equipped to deal with the current losses in the food supply chain, NFU chief poultry adviser Aimee Mahony said: “It’s a fine line. We’re building up our national flock. It had been reduced, but it was coming back up to a level we had pre-Covid.
“There was a bit of elasticity there, but now that will tighten up. It’s about bringing those birds back into production.”
Despite the loss in egg layers and with 276,500 pullets culled in the bird flu “season”, Ms Mahoney said there were currently no impacts on supply, but the situation needs monitoring carefully.
NFU poultry board chairman James Mottershead added: “Consumers don’t need to be worried yet. We haven’t seen any shortages on the shelves, and it’s managed very well at the moment.”
Egg packing site to close
Meanwhile, the Wem packing site owned by the Griffiths family, which trades as Oaklands Farm Eggs, is set to close permanently, the Griffiths family has announced.
The site is currently under avian influenza restriction, following the culling of more than a million birds in January, and egg production will not resume there for at least six months.
“As a result of (ongoing) discussions, the family has reluctantly taken a decision to close the Wem packing site permanently,” said a statement.
“Therefore, we are currently reviewing several options as we look for an alternative site near to The Oaklands.
“We thank our staff and producers for their patience and support in maintaining an ongoing supply of eggs for our customers, and our farm staff for supporting the clearing and disinfection of bird areas.”
US financial support for bird flu struck farmers
A $1bn dollar (£792m) support package has been launched in the US to help the poultry industry recover from avian influenza, in the hope of lowering egg prices for consumers.
US agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins announced a five-pronged strategy to aid the struggling sector and consumers by making $500m for biosecurity measures, $400m in financial relief for affected farmers, and $100m for vaccine research, as well as looking at action to reduce regulatory burdens, and exploring temporary import options.
As a result of more than 35 million egg-laying birds being culled, the cost of eggs across the US has seen an eye-watering jump, taking the price of a dozen eggs to $5 in January, equalling a 53% increase from 2024.
The total loss, since the strain of bird flu, H5N1, began spreading around the US in 2022 is at 148 million birds.
The cost of eggs and a tight supply have made eggs a valuable commodity, seeing 100,000 eggs stolen from the back of a trailer in Pennsylvania.
The eggs were worth about $40,000 (£32,000).