Current Trends In The U.S. Egg Industry

This article from the WorldPoultry website summarizes recent trends in U.S. egg production and demonstrates the sheer scale of the industry. During 2013, around 6.6 billion dozen eggs were produced, and by the end of 2014 there are expected to be 292 million hens in the U.S., the vast majority in huge flocks of over 30,000. Per capita U.S. annual consumption in 2013 is estimated at 250.7 eggs per person. The article also outlines the implications for Californian farmers of the forthcoming Prop #2 regulations, due to come into effect in January 2015, which require conventional cages to be converted to enriched colony systems.

“The US egg industry is steadily moving forward. In 2013, the total production is expected to increase slightly compared to 2012. Feed costs remain a critical factor. New legislation is also coming closer. An overview with facts and figures.”