ZIMBABWE’S egg production tumbled by 12% to nine million eggs in the second quarter of 2018 as output by large-scale producers fell, according to a second quarter performance report by the Zimbabwe Poultry Association.
BY MTHANDAZO NYONI
In the report, chairperson Solomon Zawe revealed that the total egg production in the second quarter of the year was nine million dozens, 12% down from the 10,2 million recorded in the same period last year.
Output by large-scale producers dropped 35% to 3,3 million compared to previous period, while small-scale egg production increased by 25%.
“Although large-scale egg production increased to 1,1 million dozens per month, this is 39% down on the same period last year. Total egg production in the second quarter was three million dozens per month,” Zawe said.
Zawe also reported that there had been significant investments into layer production, driven by high egg prices. The wholesale price of table eggs remained firm and averaged $4,50 in the second quarter.
“Supply of table eggs is, therefore, expected to improve towards the end of 2018 as placed layers come into production,” he said.
Large-scale layer production stocks (growing and in-lay birds) improved significantly in the second quarter (38% and 10% respectively), while stocks of growing birds increased by 34%.
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Birds in-lay were 41% down on the same period last year.
”The poultry industry commends efforts by border authorities to curb illegal importation of chicken offal, particularly from South Africa, which has not yet fully-controlled the Avian Influenza outbreak that started mid-2017,” Zawe said.
Mirror trade data from the South African Revenue Service indicates that only 75 metric tonnes of chicken offal were exported to Zimbabwe in the first six months of 2018.
