Highlights

Value of poultry products increases

The value of all poultry products totalled $3.2 billion in 2008, a 13.1 per cent increase from 2007. Sales of poultry meat, including turkey, showed an increase of 15.0 per cent for a total value of $2.4 billion. The value of egg sales increased 7.9 per cent from 2007 to stand at $823.0 million.

Canadian farmers produced 1.2 million tonnes of poultry meat in 2008. Chicken, including stewing hens, accounted for 85 per cent of all poultry meat produced, up 1.2 per cent from 2007. Turkey production stood at 180,000 tonnes in 2008, an increase of 6.5 per cent from the previous year.

The quantity of poultry available for consumption has continued to increase over recent years, reaching 13.6 kilograms per person in 2008, a slight increase of 1.5 per cent from last year and well above the 11.7 kilograms available for consumption per person 10 years ago. The introduction of varied and readily available easy-to-prepare and ready-to-eat poultry products appeals to the time-conscious consumer and has contributed to poultry's on-going popularity.

Figure 1. Value of poultry products, Canada, 1999 to 2008

Figure 2. Poultry meat production, Canada 1999 to 2008

Figure 3. Quantity of meats available for consumption, Canada, 1999 to 2008

Egg production increases in 2009

Egg production was 580.8 million dozen, an increase of 0.2 per cent from 2008. The central region produces over half of the eggs in Canada with Ontario producing 233.2 million dozen eggs and Quebec producing 98.8 million dozen.

In December 2009, production reached 50.1 million dozen, unchanged from levels the same date a year ago.

Annual egg consumption has stabilized in recent years and was pegged at 12.0 dozen per person in 2008, following a decrease in 2007. Generally, the recent sustained growth in eggs available for consumption can be attributed to the publicity surrounding the nutritional benefits of eggs, the increased use of eggs by the food service sector, the growing popularity of value added products and the expanded use and availability of processed egg products.

Figure 4. Production of eggs, Canada, 2000 to 2009

Figure 5. Quantity of eggs available for consumption, Canada, 1999 to 2008

Further Reading

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