MARKETING
The dynamics of the U.S. egg industry between 2010 and 2020
©Hans-Wilhelm Windhorst
In 2019, the USA contributed 7.6% to the global egg production volume and ranked in second place behind China, which shared 37.5%, and before India with a contribution of 6.5%. In global egg exports, the USA ranked in fourth place behind the Netherlands, Turkey and Poland with a share of 8.1%.
Photo 1 – Aviary system in Cal-Main Foods egg farm in Bogata (Texas).
Hans-Wilhelm Windhorst The author is scientific director of the WING at the Hannover Veterinary University and Prof. emeritus of the University of Vechta, Germany
22
Over the past ten years, the U.S. egg industry showed a remarkable dynamics. In 2015, it was affected by massive outbreaks of the Avian Influenza virus in several states of the upper Midwest, which resulted in regional shifts of production. In the past decade, the transformation of housing systems for laying hens from conventional cages to cage-free systems gained in importance. In this analysis, the dynamics and changing patterns of laying hen husbandry and egg production will be analysed.
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Considerable dynamics in layer flock and egg production development Between 2010 and 2019, the total number of laying hens increased from 343.1 mill. to 403.4 mill. or by 17.6%, but decreased to 391.8 mill. in 2020. Table 1 documents the impacts of the Avian Influenza outbreaks in 2015 and the recovery in the following year. Table egg layers share about 80% of the total layer flock, 20% are breeding herds or
