Canada has largely avoided the sharp spike in egg prices currently impacting the United States, thanks to its smaller farms and robust supply management system. The U.S. has seen wholesale egg prices soar to record highs due to an avian flu outbreak, with prices hitting $5.57 USD per dozen in the Midwest and $8.85 USD in California by December 2024. Some U.S. grocery stores have posted double-digit prices, prompting comparisons with Canada’s relatively lower costs.
The surge in U.S. egg prices has been largely attributed to the avian flu, which has wiped out over 20 million chickens in the U.S. since late 2022. The disease has a near-100% mortality rate in chickens, forcing entire flocks to be culled when infected, significantly reducing egg supply.
Bruce Muirhead, public policy chair at Egg Farmers of Canada, says Canada’s smaller farms, with an average of 25,000 hens, are less susceptible to such large-scale losses compared to U.S. mega-producers, which can house millions of hens. As a result, the Canadian system is more resilient to the fluctuations caused by avian flu.
While Canada has also faced some bird flu outbreaks, particularly in British Columbia, the country’s supply management system has provided better safeguards, making it less vulnerable to drastic price hikes. The system, established in 1972, ensures a more stable egg supply and facilitates coordinated disease responses among farmers.
Despite this, the Canadian egg industry faces challenges, including rising production costs and increasing bird flu cases. While experts do not anticipate a drastic price spike like in the U.S., Tyler McCann of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute cautions that Canadians should remain vigilant to potential price increases due to these ongoing pressures.
For now, Canadians are benefiting from a more stable egg market, but experts emphasize the importance of maintaining strict disease control measures to avoid a similar crisis.
