What's New ? - 2024

Eggs are now officially recognized as a healthy food choice under new guidance recently released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has included eggs in its updated definition of healthy claims, which it states reflects current nutrition science and dietary guidance. According to the new definition, eggs meet the FDA’s healthy classification, which requires foods to contain a minimum number of individual nutrients. Current dietary recommendations encourage Americans to adopt healthy eating patterns that incorporate a variety of vegetables, fruits, dairy, proteins, and whole grains.

Demand for shell eggs has strengthened as we approach the holiday week, with consumers finalizing their preparations. Concerns regarding tight supplies, stemming from persistent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in layer flocks, are driving wholesale prices to near-record levels.

Hendrix-ISA LLC, a global leader in animal genetics, has announced the implementation of Respeggt technology to address the controversial practice of day-old male chick culling in the poultry industry. This innovative solution provides a more ethical and sustainable option for poultry farmers in the U.S. Following careful and thorough consideration, Hendrix-ISA will integrate this cutting-edge in-ovo sexing technology into its hatchery operations in Nebraska in early Q1 2025. The decision is based on Respeggt’s exceptional track record in Europe, particularly with the strong performance of Dekalb White genetics. “The technology will be the first in the U.S. to enable sexing for both brown and white breeds,” said Neal Martin, General Manager of Hendrix-ISA. Respeggt technology allows for the early determination of a chick's sex before hatching, thereby eliminating the need to cull male chicks - a widely debated and controversial practice.

A California raw milk producer with a history of bird flu contamination recalls is being considered for a key role in the upcoming administration's raw milk policy. Mark McAfee, whose dairy products have repeatedly tested positive for the virus, has been invited to advise Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s team on raw milk standards.

In October, egg prices in Ukraine surged by 60%, with the cost per dozen jumping from 40-45 UAH (0.97-1.09 USD) to 50-75 UAH (1.21-1.81 USD). Producers attribute this increase to rising costs of feed, energy, and other expenses. Typically, egg prices are lowest during the spring and summer months. However, as cold weather sets in, demand rises while supply diminishes, resulting in higher prices. Additionally, production costs have escalated due to the increased price of feed.

From 1st October 2024 it will become a legal requirement for all bird keepers in Wales and England to register themselves with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Previously, only keepers with 50 or more birds were legally required to register. This new requirement will mean keepers of poultry and other captive birds must register regardless of the size of their flock.

A new study aims to investigates the association between egg consumption and the risk of Alzheimer's dementia (AD) among older adults. The study suggests that more frequent egg consumption is linked to a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's dementia. This relationship appears to be partially mediated by dietary choline, a nutrient abundant in eggs, which may influence AD pathology. The findings indicate that consuming more than one egg per week was associated with a 47% reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's dementia. Mediation analysis indicated that approximately 39% of the total effect of egg intake on the risk of incident Alzheimer's dementia was mediated through dietary choline, which is abundant in eggs.

A comprehensive report explores the future of agricultural commodities, highlighting trends in consumption, production, trade, and pricing over the next decade. The report outlines several key trends and impacts on the poultry industry over the Outlook period from 2024 to 2033: 1. Production Growth: Global poultry production is projected to increase significantly, with a notable rise in developing countries driven by domestic demand. Global poultry meat consumption is projected to reach 160 million metric tons (MT) retail weight equivalent by 2033, accounting for half of the additional meat eaten over the period.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was requested to perform such assessment regarding high expansion foam using nitrogen for on-farm killing of pigs and poultry. Killing of poultry and pigs using inert gases, i.e. nitrogen and argon, is an approved method but the use of high expansion foam as a vehicle to carry nitrogen and displace atmospheric air in a container and the use of nitrogen jet stream to destroy the foam and release its content to create anoxia are considered a modification of the approved method.

The Biden-Harris Administration is making investments that will strengthen American food supply chains, increase independent meat and poultry processing capacity, create more, new and better markets for producers, and lower food costs. USDA is investing nearly $110 million through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) and the Local Meat Capacity (Local MCap) Grant Program. The investments are part of USDA’s efforts to create a more competitive agricultural system, advance President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, and support the Administration’s Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain, which dedicates resources to expand independent processing capacity. Together these actions help to lower food costs by spurring competition and strengthening supply chains.

The European Union has imposed duties on eggs from Ukraine, activating an "automatic safeguard measure" as the volume of imports has already exceeded the agreed amount. The move is a consequence of the recent tweak – requested and obtained by France and Poland – to the temporary suspension of all tariffs and quotas on Ukraine’s agricultural exports after Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country in 2022.

The 2021 Annual Report on Antimicrobial Agents Intended for Use in Animals was published by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) – encompassing 182 member states. This comprehensive report provides valuable insights into the use of antimicrobial agents in animals, including trends, analysis, and future developments. In 2021, the total amount of antimicrobial agents intended for use in animals ranged between 81,084 and 88,927 tonnes, with tetracyclines being the most used antimicrobial agent globally, accounting for 35.6% of the total amount, followed by penicillins and polypeptides. The number of participants providing data by antimicrobial class and animal group has increased over time, with 70 participants providing detailed data for 2021.

Florida has enacted laws prohibiting and penalizing the manufacturing and distribution of cell-cultivated meat, which is produced from animal cells within a controlled facility, statewide. This legislation aligns with similar measures in three other states -Alabama, Arizona, and Tennessee -that aim to halt the commercialization of lab-grown meat. Beef production dominates Florida's agricultural landscape, with the state ranking ninth in beef cattle production in 2024, boasting a population of 862,000. Nearly half of Florida's agricultural land is allocated to cattle farming.

Zoetis and Phibro Animal Health Corporation announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement where Phibro Animal Health will acquire Zoetis’ medicated feed additive product portfolio, certain water soluble products and related assets for $350 million, subject to customary closing adjustments. This transaction is expected to be complete in the second half of calendar year 2024.The product portfolio is comprised of more than 37 product lines that are sold in approximately 80 countries and generated approximately $400 million in revenue in 2023.

he Agricultural Research Service (ARS) inducted Dr. David Suarez, Research Leader for the Exotic and Emerging Avian Viral Disease Research Unit at the U.S. National Poultry Research Center, into its Science Hall of Fame for his outstanding research on avian influenza, Newcastle disease, and emerging zoonotic viruses. ARS established the Hall of Fame program in 1986 to honor senior agency researchers for outstanding, lifelong achievements in agricultural science and technology. Nominees must be retired or eligible to retire to receive the award.

According to a new report from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the combined value of production from broilers, eggs, turkeys, and the value of sales from chickens in 2023 was $67.1 billion, down 13 percent from $77.2 billion in 2022. Of the combined total, 64 percent was from broilers, 27 percent from eggs, 10 percent from turkeys, and less than 1 percent from chickens. The value of broilers produced during 2023 was $42.6 billion, down 16 percent from 2022. The total number of broilers produced in 2023 was 9.16 billion, down slightly from 2022.

The Scottish government has initiated a consultation regarding the prohibition of colony cages, alternatively termed as "enriched cages," utilized for hens in egg production. These replaced the previous barren cages in 2012. Battery cages for birds were outlawed in the UK in the same year. However, in Scotland, over 1.1 million chickens are still housed in "enriched cages," which offer more space for nesting, roosting, and scratching compared to the smaller battery cages. The Scottish government's inclination leans towards a ban on installing new cages starting from 2033, followed by a complete cessation of housing birds in enriched cages from 2034. The consultation additionally solicits opinions on prohibiting the use of enriched cages from 2030.

According to Nerdwallet, egg prices are once again on the upswing due to outbreaks of avian influenza. HPAI A(H5) viruses have been detected in U.S. wild aquatic birds, commercial poultry, and backyard or hobbyist flocks since January 2022, affecting more than 82 million birds across 48 states to date. Nerdwallet cited the latest Consumer Price Index, which revealed a 5.8% increase in egg prices from January to February alone. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) additionally indicates that the average cost of a dozen Grade A eggs rose from $2.52 in January to $3 in February.

A new report summarises the monitoring data collected in 2022 on the presence of residues of veterinary medicinal products and certain substances in live animals and animal products in the EU Member States, Iceland and Norway. The main results in poultry: For anticoccidials, 0.12% of the samples (15) analysed were non-compliant and in eggs 0.49% (28 samples). For antibacterials, six countries reported a total of 15 non-compliant samples and results. 16 non-compliant samples were reported under chemical elements (copper, cadmium, lead and zinc) by five countries.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary, Tom Vilsack, has announced the finalization of a rule aimed at aligning the voluntary “Product of USA” label claim with consumers' understanding of its meaning. This final rule aims to ensure that consumers can trust the authenticity of the label when they see ‘Product of USA’, knowing that every step, from birth to processing, was carried out in America. The USDA’s final “Product of USA” rule permits the voluntary use of the “Product of USA” or “Made in the USA” label claim exclusively on meat, poultry, and egg products that originate from animals born, raised, slaughtered, and processed within the United States. The rule seeks to eliminate misleading U.S. origin labeling in the market, thereby ensuring that consumers receive truthful information about the origins of their food.

As per the National Chicken Council's 2024 Wing Report, Americans are expected to consume 1.45 billion wings while watching the Kansas City and San Francisco championship game. This year's estimate remains steady compared to 2023, attributed to slightly lower chicken production levels and a 13% decrease in wing stocks in cold storage reported by the USDA in November compared to the previous year. This could account for the heightened demand and subsequent increase in wholesale wing prices.

A significant legal victory has been achieved by a collective of NFU members in a groundbreaking case against the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). The case revolves around compensation for poultry farmers impacted by an outbreak of Avian Influenza (AI) on their farms. With the backing of the NFU and its Legal Assistance Scheme, the poultry farmers effectively argued that the APHA had misconstrued the legal foundations of its compensation scheme. They contended that the agency failed to adequately compensate farmers whose birds were in good health at the time the decision was made to cull them.

Egg prices are on the rise again and are expected to continue into the first part of 2024 due to a new outbreak of avian influenza. In December, the average cost of a dozen Grade A large eggs increased to $2.51 from $2.14 in November, marking an 8.9% jump. Despite this monthly increase, egg prices are still 23.8% lower than in December 2022.Prior to February 2022, the average dozen eggs had consistently remained below $2 since March 2016. However, prices more than doubled from the beginning of 2022, reaching a peak of $4.82 per dozen in January 2023. Although prices fell steadily afterward, they had not returned to pre-pandemic levels before experiencing another increase. The spike in egg prices is primarily attributed to the widespread outbreak of H5N1, which began in early 2022 and became the largest avian influenza outbreak in U.S. history.

In January 2024, a significant £1 million marketing campaign will kick off to highlight the advantages of British Lion eggs. Endorsed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for safe consumption in a runny state for all age groups, the initiative will convey messages of trust and inspiration through compelling content. This content will be disseminated by popular social influencers, safety and nutritional experts, and media partnerships.