Early figures from the Mississippi State University Extension Service show the state’s poultry industry grew at an estimated 13.4 percent from its 2016 value.
The value increase is primarily being driven by increased prices for broiler hens.
“Pounds of production are actually down a little this year, but prices are up, and that is what is actually driving the value,” said extension agricultural economist Brian Williams. “Average price per pound in 2017 was 7 cents higher than prices in 2016.”
The state is estimated to produce 4.6 billion pounds of broilers this year, slightly down from last year’s 4.7 billion pounds. The estimated decrease in amount is mainly due to several poultry companies growing slightly smaller birds.
Egg production increased even more from 2016, up an estimated 18.6 percent. This figure is averaged across all ranges including cage-free, organic and brown eggs, as well as standard commercial production. The average price of a dozen eggs also rose from $1.91 to $2.27.
“The poultry industry reaches pretty far into the state’s economy,” Williams said. “The poultry industry’s demand for feed causes Mississippi to be a grain-deficit state, which brings up prices for our row-crop producers.”
MSU Poultry Science Department Head Mary Beck said poultry companies’ short- term plans for expansion in Mississippi show the industry is healthy.
“Demand for chicken remains strong, and chicken competes well with pork and beef as it costs less to produce,” Beck said. “As long as companies are looking to expand, this indicates the industry is in very good shape.”
Beck also said the industry benefitted from low feed costs, thanks to a large corn and soybean harvest last year.
She also said the Mississippi industry had seen very little disease this year.
“The last big industry disease outbreak was about 10 years ago,” Beck said. “There is a little bit of disease in backyard flocks from time to time, but biosecurity
measures in place have prevented the industry in Mississippi from being affected.”
Mississippi remains fifth in the nation for poultry production.