September 11, 2013
Mexico''s poultry production increase despite avian influenza outbreaks
Mexico''s poultry production continues to rise despite recent avian influenza outbreaks in the country, according to a report by USDA''s Foreign Agricultural Service.
In addition, consumer demands for more broiler meat have led to increased imports even with the threat of antidumping duties on US chicken leg quarters.
Based on the report, Mexico''s commercial broiler meat production is expected to reach 3.05 million tonnes in 2014 as the industry''s continued consolidation, along with improved production systems, has enabled it to overcome the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in the country during 2012 and 2013.
The revised production estimate also takes into account the industry''s ability to safeguard against larger HPAI losses and reflects long-term trends of steady growth.
Sources continue to emphasise that the 2012 outbreak in the state of Jalisco had minimal impact on commercial broiler meat production and product availability as the problems was largely isolated to layer operations.
Implementation of biosecurity programmes and other measures to support the progenitor sector has been crucial to maintaining production growth. Mexico has launched campaigns to increase awareness of the benefits of enhanced measures while also calling for implementation of additional surveillance over livestock.
Mexican broiler producers are optimistic that full recovery is possible by the end of 2013 or early 2014, provided that they are isolated against any fresh AI outbreaks.
According to Mexico''s National Poultry Union (UNA), the domestic flock decreased only 2.5% in 2012 as many of the HPAI-affected farms were mainly layer operations.
Feed remains the biggest contributing factor to poultry production costs. The sector estimates that increased corn production will lower input costs. However, biosecurity requirements continue to push up production costs, which are expected to remain high up to a long term.
According to sources, broiler production will continue to be concentrated in the leading producing states, such as Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, and Puebla which had been hit by HPAI outbreaks during 2012 and 2013.