US chicken sector strong going into 2025

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has updated its chicken production forecast for 2025, showing an increase in broiler chicken production and exports, despite a slight decrease in egg production due to avian influenza. The agency is also expecting higher prices for eggs and turkey in the year. In response to the ongoing HPAI challenges, the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has introduced an 'interim final rule' for biosecurity audits and increased indemnity payments for farmers who experience repeated outbreaks. Despite these efforts, some farmers continue to struggle with biosecurity issues.

Although 2025 has only just begun, at this point, chicken production in the US is starting from a strong position. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently raised its latest chicken production outlook for the year based on new hatchery data. The agency has also raised its projection of broiler chicken exports upwards due to expectations that strong current shipments to Mexico will continue. However, the USDA has slightly reduced its US egg production outlook due to lower numbers of laying hens as a result of continued outbreaks of highly-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Also, projections for exports of egg and egg products have been “adjusted down on tight supplies and high prices”. Egg prices in 2025 are expected to be higher than in 2024. Looking at turkey, production projections for 2025 have also been adjusted downward in the most-recent USDA report, a result of recent placement data and losses due to HPAI. As with eggs, turkey prices are therefore expected to be ...