Chicken, eggs benefit from demand for economical protein

Robust demand for protein and standing as an economical alternative to beef bodes nicely for rooster and egg demand in 2026, based on recent analysis from Farm Credit score Canada.

For instance, earlier than 2021 floor beef was about $1.00 per pound cheaper than rooster breast, wrote FCC senior economist Graeme Crosbie in a Feb. 11 report. Since mid-2024, the value of floor beef has caught and even surpassed the value of rooster breast in some months.

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Rooster costs at retail, farm gate

This rise in beef costs has pushed customers towards different meats, like rooster and pork. Since 2022, pork costs have risen by greater than 13 per cent, rooster costs by virtually 22 per cent, and beef costs by almost 38 per cent, FCC reported on Jan. 28.

Further demand for rooster has led to increased costs. Contemporary or frozen rooster costs rose by a mean of 6.7 per cent within the ultimate three months of 2025, FCC stated. January to September, they rose 0.9 per cent on common monthly.

The rise has been largely unbiased of farm gate costs within the latter half of the 12 months.

FCC predicted that farm gate costs for rooster might be flat to decrease in 2026 as feed prices are anticipated to stay low.

“Margins will stay constructive given robust demand and aforementioned low feed prices,” Crosbie wrote.

Crosbie famous that there’s some concern that avian influenza will hamper producers’ capability to fill demand — notably in B.C. Nonetheless, 5.6 per cent extra extra chicks have been positioned for broiler manufacturing within the latter half of 2025 than in the identical interval in 2024.

“Assuming avian flu outbreaks are nicely managed, this bodes nicely for manufacturing numbers within the first a part of 2026,” Crosbie wrote.

Imports of rooster below the Canada-United States-Mexico (CUSMA) and Trans-Pacific (CPTPP) commerce agreements reached almost 100 per cent of tariff-rate quotas for the primary time in 2025.

Egg demand, manufacturing up

Eggs are additionally benefiting from demand for economical protein.

Whereas egg consumption per capita has been on the rise because the 90s, there was a “important soar” within the second half of 2025, stated Crosbie.

Particularly, the variety of eggs out there for consumption rose to five.54 dozen per particular person within the third quarter of 2025 from 5.00 dozen per particular person in the identical quarter of 2024.

This “signifies a big improve in manufacturing amid slowing inhabitants progress,” Crosbie stated.

Two opposing forces seem like in play, Crosbie wrote. There seem like loads of eggs out there, whereas there’s solely anecdotal proof of the impacts over the winter of avian influenza on laying flocks.

“Quota allocation could also be slowed or altered to start the 12 months if no important manufacturing capability was misplaced,” Crosbie wrote.

“Regardless, the longer-term outlook for egg consumption and manufacturing continues to be constructive.”