Japan farmers urged to stay ‘calm’ as record 12 million hens culled, in bird flu crisis

Egg prices have soared in February, with problem exacerbated by rising costs for feed and electricity at farms

Further price increases likely, as poultry association sets up task force to deal with crisis, urges farmers to stay united

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The 7-Eleven Japan chain of 24-hour convenience stores has halted sales of 15 products containing eggs, including sandwiches and salads. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 4:30pm, 23 Feb 2023Updated: 4:34pm, 23 Feb 2023

Japan’s poultry farmers have been urged to remain “calm” with egg prices soaring to record highs as highly pathogenic avian influenza rips through hen flocks and the price of feed continues to climb.

The price of 1 kilogram of medium-sized eggs reached 335 yen (US$2.48) in early February, nearly double the price 12 months earlier.

Egg shortages mean there are fewer on supermarket shelves while the 7-Eleven Japan chain of 24-hour convenience stores has halted sales of 15 products containing eggs, including sandwiches and salads.

Officials in protective suits working to cull chickens at a poultry farm in Kobayashi in Miyazaki Prefecture after an outbreak of bird flu was confirmed there in December 2020. Photo: Kyodo

The present shortages come after farmers reported a glut of eggs a year ago, a situation that also hurt farmers as they were unable to earn sufficient profit to cover their costs.

In the latest crisis, farmers have had to cull a record 12.35 million birds since October, with at least 76 farms across 25 of the nation’s 47 prefectures affected by bird flu this winter.

In 2020, a record high of 52 farms reported cases of bird flu. The disease has also forced the culling of smaller numbers of ducks and ostriches.

The problem has been exacerbated by increasing costs for feed and electricity at farms, a result of climbing energy prices due to the Ukraine war.

The industry says there are no indications that the factors affecting farm operations will be reversed soon, meaning that further price rises are likely. The surging prices will also inevitably be passed on to consumers in key Asia-Pacific export markets, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Macau and Guam.