# Poultry industry counts the cost of bird flu | Freight News

> South Africa's poultry industry lost an estimated R9.5 billion from the 2023 H5 and H7 avian influenza outbreaks, with 30% of breeding hens and 20% of layers lost. Breeding egg imports of 150 million since October helped cushion the impact, and egg prices rose 5.4% in Q4 before easing in January.

- Date: 2024-02-05 · published 2024-02-05T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: disease · region Global · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/31676-poultry-industry-counts-the-cost-of-bird-flu-freight-news
- Commodities: [Chicken](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CHICKEN.md)

## Why it matters

Lower domestic layer numbers and imported chicks shape South African poultry feed demand, while looser tariffs on poultry imports could divert demand from local production.

## Sources

- freightnews.co.za: https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/poultry-industry-counts-the-cost-of-bird-flu

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.