# Bird flu outbreak sees egg shortage, hefty price increases on the cards for SA

> A bird flu (H5N8) outbreak in South Africa has wiped out more than 15% of the layer flock, with over four million chickens culled or being culled across at least 23 commercial farms. Egg shortages are expected to push table egg prices up, and the flock may take one to two years to recover.

- Date: 2017-10-18 · published 2017-10-18T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: disease · region South Africa · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/68468-bird-flu-outbreak-sees-egg-shortage-hefty-price-increases-on-the-cards-for-sa
- Commodities: [Chicken](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CHICKEN.md)

## Why it matters

Losing roughly 15% of layer hens tightens domestic egg and poultry supply, with economists forecasting 15-20% price rises and possible imports that are costly to ship by air or sea. Higher egg and chicken prices may shift demand toward other proteins and raise feed-related demand questions for local buyers.

## Read by commodity

- CHICKEN: bullish ▲

## Sources

- bizcommunity.com: https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/358/168915.html

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