Highlights

Value of poultry products unchanged
The value of poultry products totalled $2.6 billion in 2005, virtually unchanged from 2004. Sales of poultry meat, including turkey, were up 2.1% with a total value close to $1.9 billion. The value of egg sales, however, decreased 4.2% from 2004 to stand at $717.1 million.

Canadian farmers produced 1.2 million tonnes of poultry meat in 2005, up 3.6% from 2004. Chicken accounts for close to 87% of all poultry meat produced. It increased 3.1% from year-ago levels. Turkey production stood at 155 thousand tonnes in 2005, an increase of 7.1% from 2004.

The consumption of poultry has stabilized over recent years, reaching 13.7 kilograms per person in 2005, a slight increase of 1.5% from last year and well above the 11.6 kilograms consumed per person ten years ago. The introduction of varied and readily available easy-to-prepare and ready-to-eat poultry products appeals to the time conscious consumer and has contributed to poultry’s on-going popularity.

Egg production increases in 2005
Egg production in 2005, at 586.8million dozen, increased 5.9% from2004, due to the re-population of flocks following the outbreak of Avian Influenza (AI) in British Columbia. Annual egg consumption has stabilized in recent years and was pegged at 12.9 dozen per person in 2005, following a slight decrease in 2004.

Generally, the recent sustained growth in egg consumption can be attributed to the publicity surrounding the nutritional benefits of eggs, the increased use of eggs by the food service sector, the growing popularity of value added products and the expanded use and availability of processed egg products.

Introduction

Also included are data on the average price of eggs sold for table consumption, the per capita disappearance and consumption of poultry meats and eggs, and the production and stocks of processed eggs.

The data presented are obtained from a variety of sources such as administrative sources and censuses. Administrative data are provided by the Canadian Egg Marketing Agency (CEMA), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and Statistics Canada. Information from Statistics Canada’s Census of Agriculture and Census of Population is also used in preparing the estimates.

The data, published on a provincial basis, are used in decision making by government agencies, processors, retailers, universities, producer organizations and health institutions.

1. Production data supplied in table 7 (Supply and disposition of eggs) are compiled in May of each year and revised annually. Production and disposition data supplied in tables 4 and 5 (Production and disposition of eggs) are subject to revision throughout the year and may not compare exactly to the data in table 7;
   
   

2. beginning in 1986, egg consumption is adjusted to take into consideration a loss of 1.95%of total egg production due to leakers and rejects;
   
   

3. also beginning in 1986, a new method is used to calculate consumption on the farm;
   
   

4. a negligible number of hatchery-supply eggs are sold on the table market. Since data on the amount sold are not available, it is deemed to be zero;
   
   

5. Please note that the quantity and value of eggs sold for hatching in New Brunswick also include the quantity and value for the other Atlantic provinces.

Further Information

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Source: StatCan - June 2006