SOUTH CAPE NEWS - Producers of chicken and eggs have had a torrid time in recent years.
This is according to Liana Steenkamp from agricultural group Laeveld Agrochem.
"First we had higher feed prices the last two seasons because of the drought, followed by the increased import of chicken. And now the devastating impact of the highly contagious H5N8 bird flu."
She said the virus will also have a negative impact on the animal feed sector. Based on figures from the Animal Feed Manufacturers Association, almost 65% of last year's animal feed sales went to the poultry industry.
The mass culling of laying hens will also affect South Africa's export of table eggs to neighbouring countries like Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Direct job losses due to the bird flu have already risen above 1 000, with further losses expected in secondary sectors.
According to the South African Poultry Association (Sapa), South Africa's broiler and egg producers, in rand terms, make up the largest segment of the country's agricultural sector, contributing 18% of all agricultural production and 39% of all animal products in 2016.
The beef sector is the nearest competitor, contributing 12,7% to the turnover of all agricultural production and 27,5% of all animal products.
Approximately 76% of the birds in the poultry industry are used for meat production, while the remaining 24% is used in the egg industry.
Data from Sapa shows that more poultry products are consumed every year than all the other animal protein sources combined.
The South African poultry industry last year provided 63,1% of animal protein (excluding milk) consumed in the country.
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' data shows that the per capita consumption of poultry meat and eggs in 2016 stood at 39,04 kg and 7,89 kg respectively, with a combined per capita consumption of 46,93 kg.
Per capita consumption of beef, pork, and mutton and goat were 19,47 kg, 4,69 kg, and 3,40 kg respectively.
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