Poultry & Eggs - Readings | Economic Research Service

Demand for Alternative Feed Grains for Broiler Production in an Era of Global Price Uncertainty: The Case of Sorghum The expansion of broiler production to meet a growing demand for chicken meat has increased the need for feed globally. However, the demand for feed is complex, as these feedstuffs are also used for human consumption and biofuels, and broiler farmers tend to be risk averse when faced with uncertain input prices. This study looks at how the increased demand for broiler feed may have affected the demand for feed alternatives among some of the world’s major broiler producing countries, when faced with uncertain global feed prices and rising feed costs. (ERR-350, April 2025).
Animal Welfare and Treatment Label Claims in U.S. Table Eggs: Trends in Retail Premiums and Policy Impacts, 2008–18 This report examines the retail premiums, or discounts, for animal welfare and treatment claims in U.S. table eggs and assesses the dynamics of those premiums from 2008 to 2018. The report also investigates the impacts of the 2014–15 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak and the passage of several State-level policies addressing the treatment of laying hens and the sale of eggs on the average retail premiums for animal welfare and treatment claims on table eggs sold between 2008 and 2018. (ERR-343, January 2025).
Poultry Is Expected to Continue Leading Global Meat Imports as Demand Rises: Over the past two decades, poultry has become the most consumed livestock commodity in the world, especially in developing and emerging markets where production prospects have been relatively limited. Poultry is expected to remain the world’s largest imported livestock commodity by volume over the next 10 years. (Amber Waves, August 2022).
Impacts of the 2014-2015 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak on the U.S. Poultry Sector Between December 2014 and June 2015, more than 50 million chickens and turkeys in the United States died of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or were destroyed to stop the spread of the disease. This report provides an overview of the HPAI outbreak with a focus on the impacts on U.S. poultry production, trade, and prices. (LDPM-282-02, December 2017).
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and Tariff-Rate Quotas for U.S. Meat Exports to the European Union: The United States is the world’s second largest broiler meat exporter, and exports are a valuable source of income for the industry. USDA, ERS examines factors affecting the growth in broiler meat exports, focusing on several major markets. (LDPM-245-01, December 2014).
Assessing the Growth of U.S. Broiler and Poultry Meat Exports The United States is the world’s second-largest broiler meat exporter, and exports are a valuable source of income for the industry. USDA, ERS examines factors affecting the growth in broiler meat exports, focusing on several major markets. (LDPM-231-01, November 2013).
Local Meat and Poultry Processing: The Importance of Business Commitments for Long-Term Viability Consumer demand for local meat has risen in recent years. Farmers contend that limited processing capacity restricts supply, while processors often lack the consistent business required to make a profit. (ERR-150, June 2013).
Food Safety Audits, Plant Characteristics, and Food Safety Technology Use in Meat and Poultry Plants USDA, ERS documents the extent of food safety audits in meat and poultry processing plants and examines the association between the use of audits and the plants’ size, business structure, and application of food safety technology. (EIB-82, October 2011)
The Economic Organization of U.S. Broiler Production (June 2008), based on a large and representative survey of broiler operations, describes the industry's organization, housing features, contract design, fees and enterprise cost structures, and farm and household finances. Broiler production in the United States is coordinated almost entirely through systems of production contracts, and the industry's structure is gradually changing as production shifts to larger broiler enterprises.
How Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) Has Affected World Poultry-Meat Trade (October 2007) discusses the impact of H5N1 strain of avian influenza on world poultry markets during 2003-06. Consumer fears adversely affected poultry consumption in many countries, but as consumers gained confidence that poultry was safe if properly handled and cooked, world demand for cooked poultry increased.
Organic Poultry and Eggs Capture High Price Premiums and Growing Share of Specialty Markets (see the Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook: December 2006) examines trends in markets, animal numbers, and prices for organic poultry and eggs. Markets for these products in the United States are expanding rapidly. Price comparisons between organic and conventional broilers and eggs show significant organic price premiums.
"Economic Effects of Animal Diseases Linked to Trade Dependency" (Amber Waves, April 2006) highlights the importance of livestock and poultry trade to producers and consumers around the world. Though global meat trade has not fallen in response to animal disease outbreaks, a few countries have seen significant changes to their exports and imports. See also "Brazil Emerges as Major Force in Global Meat Markets" (Amber Waves, April 2006).
Market Integration of the North American Animal Products Complex (May 2005) examines the economic integration of the beef, pork, and poultry industries of Mexico, Canada, and the United States over the past two decades. Sanitary barriers, which are designed to protect people and animals from diseases, are some of the most significant barriers to fuller integration of meat and animal markets. For more information on integration, see "North America Moves Toward One Market" (Amber Waves, June 2005).
Contracts, Markets, and Prices: Organizing the Production and Use of Agricultural Commodities (November 2004) reports that contracts are now the primary method of handling sales of many livestock commodities, including milk, hogs, and broilers, and of major crops such as sugar beets, fruit, and processing tomatoes. Production and marketing contracts governed 36 percent of the value of U.S. agricultural production in 2001, up from 12 percent in 1969.
"Savvy Buyers Spur Food Safety Innovations in Meat Processing" (Amber Waves, April 2004) finds that the market incentives that motivate private firms to invest in food safety innovation seem to be fairly weak. Results from an ERS survey of U.S. meat and poultry slaughter and processing plants and two case studies of innovation in the U.S. beef industry reveal development of a number of mechanisms to overcome that weakness and to stimulate investment in food safety innovation. For the full report, see Food Safety Innovation in the United States: Evidence from the Meat Industry (April 2004).
India's Poultry Sector: Development and Prospects (February 2004) assess the supply, demand, structure, and policy factors affecting the growth of the Indian poultry industry, including the rise of integrated producers who are fostering improved productivity and reduced marketing costs.
The Poultry Sector in Middle-Income Countries and Its Feed Requirements: The Case of Egypt (December 2003) examines the interaction between domestic feed and animal production and meat and feed imports. Egypt, a country with little potential for growing feed, illustrates the issues facing many middle-income countries.
Many factors determine the Structure of the Global Markets for Meat (September 2003), including the relative availability of resources for raising and processing animals for meat. Preferences for various cuts of meat among countries provide opportunities for international trade.
Manure Management for Water Quality: Costs to Animal Feeding Operations of Applying Manure Nutrients to Land (June 2003) evaluates the costs of spreading manure on cropland at the farm, regional, and national levels. EPA regulations enacted in February 2003 require concentrated animal feeding operations (generally the largest producers of hogs, chicken, dairy, and beef cattle) to meet nutrient application standards when spreading their manure on cropland in order to preserve water resources from nitrogen and phosphorus runoff. USDA is encouraging all animal feeding operations to do the same. If all operations meet the new standards, increases in production costs could be felt throughout the food and agricultural system.
U.S.-Mexico Broiler Trade: A Bird's Eye View (December 2002) examines sanitary requirements and regulations currently governing the U.S.-Mexico broiler trade. A sensitivity analysis, using a cost-minimization mathematical programming model, detects minimal economic impact on the U.S. broiler market if Mexico is allowed to ship fresh, chilled, and frozen poultry to the United States.
Economic Assessment of Food Safety Regulations: The New Approach to Meat and Poultry Inspection (July 1997) evaluates the benefits and costs of reducing microbial pathogens and preventing foodborne illness using the inspection system called Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP).

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