Canadian egg farmers operate under a system of Supply Management that
ensures the needs and requirements of both farmers and consumers are met.
The system is run by the farmers who agree to regulation of sales of their product
in exchange for receiving a fair return.
The system was adopted in Dec. of 1972 in
response to the turmoil that plagued the
egg farming industry in the 60s and put
many farmers out of business. Under
the Supply Management system,
egg farmers are organised in Provincial boards that collectively form the
Egg farmers of Canada. The Role of
EFC is to manage the supply of eggs,
promote eggs and develop national
standards for egg farming. The pillars of the supply management system are control of production and
imports, and periodically determine
the cost of production to ensure
farmers are compensated fairly. Stability in the egg market promotes
sustainability, as a result in 2013
there were 1021 egg producers in
Canada with an average farm size of
22,255 layers, highlighting the family nature of egg
farming. The farms are distributed over 11 provinces
and territories, as shown in the table below:
Farmers and average ock size per province
1 Reported data for 2013.
2 Reported data for 2013.
Excludes inventory for Eggs for Processing and special permits
Production is allocated under quotas distributed within the
provinces; additional allocations are added in response to
increase in consumption, as illustrated in the table below:
Federal quota allocation (dozens)
source: 2013 EFC annual report
In addition to the gures above, there are allocations for
vaccine (635 thousand doz.), distributed between Ontario and
Quebec.
The market for eggs in Canada has continued to grow, this will
be the seventh consecutive year showing increase in retail egg
sales, prompting the quota allocation increases referred to in the
table above. Programs are adopted to encourage new entrants
and help them to become sustainable egg producers, as well as
involving younger generations in the family farm business.
The egg market in Canada is mainly a white egg market,
with white eggs representing more than 90 % of the eggs sold,
although the brown egg market has shown some growth lately
due to the increase in popularity of alternative housing systems
as well as organic ocks.
Canadian egg farmers promote egg consumption through
communicating their values to key audiences, and through the
practice of social responsibility. Canadian farmers contribute
generously and get involved in social programs and charities in
their local communities, as well as over-seas as far as Africa.
The Board of Directors role is to provide leadership and
vision for the Egg Farmers of Canada in key areas of interest,
such as sustainability of the industry, public
support and social license, and growth and
innovation.
EFC invests heavily in research to promote
sustainability and growth of the industry
through innovation, with focus on human
health and nutrition in relation to egg products. Other areas of focus are poultry health
and welfare, in that regard animal care and
well-being has become a major focus lately.
It partners with research and teaching institutions with the aim of developing factbased responses and initiatives. The EFC also
champions and supports vital programs like
the Animal care, the Start Clean-Stay Clean™,
Traceability, and the National Quality Code for Canadian Eggs,
which recently received a funding boost as part of $2.2 million
grant from the federal government to the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) to update and develop poultry codes
of Practice.
Never the less, the greatest success of the Supply Management
system is to satisfy the demands of the Canadian egg consumer
while allowing egg farmers to maintain their Way of Life …
Position of LOHMANN in the Canadian egg-market
Since their introduction into Canada in 2001,
LOHMANN birds
have enjoyed continued growth in popularity, dominating the
market in egg numbers and egg quality. The market share for
LSL Lite has far exceeded any other breed in the market, due
to its impressive return over cost. Similarly, with the market
for brown eggs headed up lately,
LOHMANN BROWN LITE is
gaining market share as well, as producers become familiar
with it.
LOHMANN chicks are available
through a network of ve independent distributors oering products
and services to egg producers across
Canada. The large investments that
LOHMANN made in primary breeding
facilities in the past two years further
arms
LOHMANN’S commitment to
the layer market in Canada and North
America, and raises hope for an even
brighter future.
Khalil Arar
Source: Nielsen Markel Track, Total Eggs–National
52 weeks ending Dec. 14 2013, Dec. 15 2012, Dec 17 2011, Dec. 18 2010, Dec. 19 2009, Dec. 20 2008