The Namakkal-based National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC), an apex body for poultry trade, increased by 13 paise the price of egg to Rs 2.75 a piece, according to The Hindu Business Line.

Broiler prices, too, are inching up towards the record Rs 75/kg-mark, scaled in April 2011. Prices of cull birds are ruling at Rs 72/kg owing to the demand for animal protein during summer.

Higher input costs and the 45-day fishing ban – that is on till 29 May –imposed by the State Government are also seen as factors catalysing the rise in poultry products price.

P. Selvaraj, Chairman of the NECC's Namakkal zone, told Business Line that the industry had cut production owing to summer. Daily egg production in Namakkal has been cut by 10-12 per cent from three crore eggs.

Moreover, spiralling cost of soyameal - a key ingredient in poultry feed– is adding to the woes of the industry. Soyameal at Indore ruled at Rs 28,000-28,200 a tonne on Thursday against Rs 25,300 last month. Feed costs account for two-thirds of cost of production in a poultry unit.

However, he said that there may not be further price hike as they (the industry) want to sustain the demand and to clear the backlog of eggs due to a ban imposed by Oman and non-procurement by schools for the noon meal programme due to holidays.

Prices of layer birds have slipped by Rs 13/kg to Rs 37.