That’s despite the effects of avian influenza on the country’s flock.

WHY IT MATTERS: Canadian egg producers have capitalized on demand for economical protein.

Egg production expanded by 7.6 per cent last year to 937 million dozen, with per capita egg consumption on the rise, Egg Farmers of Canada reported. During 2025, 1.5 million hens were temporarily added to the system to meet demand.

That included annual egg sales rising 5.8 per cent, with foodservice demand up 2.6 per cent. Also, the number of households consuming six or fewer eggs per week was down four per cent, which Egg Farmers of Canada attributed in part to its new ‘Eggs Everywhere’ campaign.

Demand for economical protein was also a boon to egg demand, FCC reported in February.

To combat salmonella enteritidis, all hens in Canada will now have to be vaccinated against that infection.

The phasing out of conventional housing systems continued with 39.5 per cent of the national flock still in such systems, down from 42 per cent in 2024 and 52.9 per cent in 2021.

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The project’s lead researcher is so excited she’s putting off retirement.

“I want the first experiment in a system like this. This is so exciting,” Karen Schwean-Lardner said in a University of Saskatchewan news release.

Earlier this month, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation announced $6.2 million in funding to build a state-of-the-art poultry laying facility at the University. The foundation is a federal government-created non-profit set up in 1997 to fund research infrastructure in Canada.

WHY IT MATTERS: The proposed facility will allow researchers to improve poultry barn lighting, housing and food systems for better animal welfare and egg production.

The Saskatchewan Egg Producers contributed $3 million while the university’s agriculture and bioresource department added $1 million.

“This will move us so far forward in poultry research,” said Schwean-Lardner in the release. Schwean-Lardner is a professor in the university’s department of animal and poultry science.

The nearly 24,000-square-foot facility is set to include three types of hen housing: enriched, free run and free-range. Ten individual housing rooms will have controls for lighting, temperature and other environmental factors.

“Each one is like a little mini-barn,” Schwean-Larder told media.

“Big data is getting more attention these days. We have a lot of data that can be gathered over time, and this unit is going to allow us to manage that data and collect it over a long period of time,” assistant professor Deborah Adewole said. “There are going to be a lot of new things that we can do for poultry research.”

The facility will also include viewing rooms so public groups — for example, schoolchildren — can see the chickens and housing systems while reducing biosecurity risks.

“We can control the environment. Right now, we cannot do that in the same way,” said Adewole. “This facility is one of its kind in Canada. There are other universities that have built new facilities, but this one is encompassing all systems and has space for public viewing systems as well — which is a first in Canada.”

Schwean-Larder said her first experiment would look at the effects of light on the hens and will involve researchers from the U.S.

“To be able to do that kind of research with an international perspective, I can’t stand it. I’m losing my voice because I’m excited.”

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Alexandra Harlander is a professor in the department of animal biosciences at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Agricultural College.

Her appointment as research chair in poultry welfare is part of a $1.3 million investment to ensure research at the university, “continues to guide animal care standards and inform management decisions” according to a Feb. 26 news release.

Harlander’s research focuses on understanding hen behaviour across different housing systems. Her work has contributed to the National Farm Animal Care Council’s codes of practice, the release said. She has also contributed to several industry programs, including a national feather-scoring system.

“True animal care is shared care. It includes the hens, the farmers and the farm families in every barn across the country,” Harlander said in the news release.

“I strive to develop practical, science-based solutions that benefit the birds and the well-being of the people who care for them,” she said. “I look forward to working directly with farmers and their birds to address the challenges they face.”

Harlander succeeds Tina Widowski, who held the chair since 2011.

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For example, before 2021 ground beef was about $1.00 per pound cheaper than chicken breast, wrote FCC senior economist Graeme Crosbie in a Feb. 11 report. Since mid-2024, the price of ground beef has caught and even surpassed the price of chicken breast in some months.

Chicken prices at retail, farm gate

This rise in beef prices has pushed consumers toward other meats, like chicken and pork. Since 2022, pork prices have risen by more than 13 per cent, chicken prices by almost 22 per cent, and beef prices by nearly 38 per cent, FCC reported on Jan. 28.

Additional demand for chicken has led to higher prices. Fresh or frozen chicken prices rose by an average of 6.7 per cent in the final three months of 2025, FCC said. January to September, they rose 0.9 per cent on average per month.

The rise has been largely independent of farm gate prices in the latter half of the year.

FCC predicted that farm gate prices for chicken will be flat to lower in 2026 as feed costs are expected to remain low.

“Margins will remain positive given strong demand and aforementioned low feed costs,” Crosbie wrote.

Crosbie noted that there’s some concern that avian influenza will hamper producers’ ability to fill demand — particularly in B.C. However, 5.6 per cent more more chicks were placed for broiler production in the latter half of 2025 than in the same period in 2024.

“Assuming avian flu outbreaks are well controlled, this bodes well for production numbers in the first part of 2026,” Crosbie wrote.

Imports of chicken under the Canada-United States-Mexico (CUSMA) and Trans-Pacific (CPTPP) trade agreements reached nearly 100 per cent of tariff-rate quotas for the first time in 2025.

Egg demand, production up

Eggs are also benefiting from demand for economical protein.

While egg consumption per capita has been on the rise since the 90s, there was a “significant jump” in the second half of 2025, said Crosbie.

Specifically, the number of eggs available for consumption rose to 5.54 dozen per person in the third quarter of 2025 from 5.00 dozen per person in the same quarter of 2024.

This “indicates a large increase in production amid slowing population growth,” Crosbie said.

Two opposing forces appear to be in play, Crosbie wrote. There appear to be plenty of eggs available, while there’s only anecdotal evidence of the impacts over the winter of avian influenza on laying flocks.

“Quota allocation may be slowed or altered to begin the year if no significant production capacity was lost,” Crosbie wrote.

“Regardless, the longer-term outlook for egg consumption and production continues to be positive.”

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WHY IT MATTERS: The OECD advocates for free and open markets around the world, and its reports are unique comparisons on the levels of support between countries.

While the report said support levels in Canada averaged 8.2 per cent of gross farm receipts in 2022-2024, below the OECD average of 13.2 per cent, it criticized the country’s system of supply management for dairy, eggs and poultry, saying recent high levels of transfers to the sector amounted to 28 per cent of commodity gross farm receipts between 2022 and 2024.

The OECD considers higher milk prices in Canada due to managed supply and import quotas to be a subsidy.

The support level from supply management was down in the past three years because avian influenza outbreaks in the United States resulted in higher egg and poultry prices there.

The OECD had some cautions about the growing list of government funding programs tied to sustainability. Some programs, such as AgriMarketing, should have better greenhouse gas emissions reporting, the OECD said. Food imports and their sustainability impacts could have more scrutiny.

Programs that support innovation and knowledge transfer continue to decline in Canada, and the OECD says that will need to change if Canada wants to reverse its trend of total factor productivity growth lagging the world average.

The OECD recommends moving to more outcomes-based measures versus support for adopting certain practices in program creation. That means farmers who receive a payment for changing a practice wouldn’t receive it until the government was sure that it received the expected result.

The U.S. continues to have even lower support than Canada, at about seven per cent of gross farm receipts, but if the support level attributed to supply management is removed, support for the rest of Canadian agriculture would be lower.

That level is well down from the 20 per cent of the mid-1980s and 2000s.

Sugar receives market price support by border controls in the U.S.

The United Kingdom has decreased its support levels to about 14 per cent from closer to 20 per cent in the early 2000s when it was part of the European Union.

Japan continues to have very high farm subsidies, at 32 per cent, but that’s down from 60 per cent 20 years ago.

https://farmtario.com/livestock/oecd-lauds-canadas-low-farm-subsidies-criticizes-supply-management/

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On Oct. 8, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced a list of seven regulatory changes, part of a an ongoing government effort to untangle regulatory red tape.

WHY IT MATTERS: While industry welcomed red tape reduction announcements Oct. 8, agriculture groups say there’s still a long way to go to streamline Canada’s regulatory system.

As well as several changes for fruit and vegetable growers, and veal producers, the announcement included a line item shifting requirements for pathogen testing requirements if hatching eggs are to be brought into Canada.

Further guidance sent out by the CFIA said “hatching eggs of chickens, turkeys, waterfowl or game birds destined for Canadian licensed hatcheries must now be sourced from a flock sampled and tested as outlined in the Canadian Hatchery and Supply Flock Testing Standards or to a monitoring program deemed by the CFIA as equivalent.”

Nik Zylstra, director of hatchery and further poultry processing sectors with the Canadian Egg and Poultry Processors, said while he has not yet spoken with the CFIA about the announcement, he suspects it simply expands existing domestic hatchery standards onto U.S. egg exports to Canada.

“In the Health of Animals regulations in Canada, there’s a portion of them that speak to hatcheries,” said Zylstra.

“These regulations were updated two or three years ago in Canada and one of the requirements is that hatcheries have to source their hatching eggs from supply blocks that are in line with (Canada’s) testing standards.

“So there’s already a domestic requirement that supply flocks are tested using certain standards. And this is just officially applying the same requirements to imported hatching eggs.”

As for where U.S. hatching egg exporters stand, Zylstra doesn’t expect the rule change will require extra or higher standards than those already practiced, adding that Canadian Egg and Poultry Producers represents the “vast majority” — but not all — of Canadian hatcheries.

“From what I understand, all of our hatcheries who import hatching eggs from the U.S. (have) U.S. suppliers (that) already follow some level of testing standards that are similar to the CFIA standards,” he said.

The Canadian Hatchery and Supply Flock Testing Standards cover a broad range of sampling testing procedures, including those for different strains of salmonella, as well as environmental tests, tests for day of hatch and embryonated eggs and others. It also classifies various diseases relevant to the hatching industry.

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The study released Aug. 1 analyzed 14 dairy farms from two different regions in California. At those farms, bird flu was detected in the air inside milking parlours as well as in exhaled breath from cows, which would infect both cattle and workers. The virus was also found in the water used to clean the parlours and milking equipment.

Why it matters: While Canadian dairy cattle have escaped bird flu infections so far, poultry farms in some regions have been hammered by the disease.

Some cattle that showed no symptoms of illness were also carriers of bird flu, the study added. However, mastitis found in cattle did not always correlate with bird flu infections.

A potential vaccine against the H5N1 bird flu strain has tested well in non-human primates.

Novavax released pre-clinical data on Aug. 1, which showed strong immune responses in the test subjects with one and two doses of the vaccine, which was administered by injection and by nasal spray.

“Our findings indicate that a single (intramuscular) dose of (the) vaccine might serve as an effective pandemic vaccine in individuals with pre-existing seasonal influenza immunity from vaccination or infection,” Novavax said in a news release.

Brazil’s agriculture minister Carlos Favaro told reporters on Aug. 4 that Chile will re-open its borders to Brazilian poultry.
Chile becomes part of a growing list of countries that have removed restrictions on poultry imports from Brazil, which were implemented after a commercial farm tested positive in May. However, China, the European Union, Canada, Malaysia, East Timor, North Macedonia and Pakistan are still prohibiting all poultry from the South American country. Sixteen other countries have partial restrictions.

In Canada, there are only five premises currently infected with bird flu, the CFIA reported. No Canadian cattle have been infected with the virus.

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“The outcome of this process supports our sector’s vision of continuous improvement in our production practices and approach to producing Canadian eggs,” said Roger Pelissero, chair of Egg Farmers of Canada in a news release.

The National Farm Animal Care Council and Egg Farmers of Canada announced the changes on Thursday. The amendment process began December 2023 after a comprehensive review of the code.

The changes targetted three aspects of layer and pullet care: requirements for round feeders, space allowances for pullets in multi-tier systems and the maximum number of tiers allowed in barns.

Round feeders

Specific requirements for minimum space per bird for round feeders was added to the code. Space requirements for linear feeders wasn’t changed.

The 2017 code requirements were challenging for egg farmers using round feeders, a ‘what we heard’ report said. The code requirements for birds per feeder differed from manufacturers recommendations.

Instead of specific defined measurements, the code provided a formula to convert linear feeder space to round feeder space. Producers questioned the rationale behind that conversion, “leading industry and the Code committee to question whether this may have been included as an oversight,” the report said.

The minimum space allowance requirement will apply to all holdings in the future, the amended code says. A transition timeline for barns built before the amendment will be decided when the code is next updated in or around 2028.

Multi-tier systems

Space requirements were changed for pullets older than eight weeks and housed in multi-tier systems to add about 36 per cent more space per bird.

During the consultation process, industry stakeholders raised concerns that the minimum space requirement was insufficient, the ‘what we heard’ report said. Many pullet growers were looking to soon replace existing pullet housing and were stuck in a holding pattern as they waited for further guidance.

A new recommended practice was added to provide additional space for pullets after 17 weeks of age.

“Pullets that are transitioned to the layer barn after 17 weeks of age are at greater risk for poor welfare due to physiological and behavioural changes associated with the onset of lay (e.g., risk of smothering, egg peritonitis, mislaid eggs),” the amended code says.

Maximum number of tiers

Egg Farmers of Canada added criteria to interpret rules around the number of tiers allowed in laying hen aviaries. Equipment manufacturers had interpreted the requirements multiple ways, the committee said. The additional criteria is meant to ensure the intention to protect the hens’ welfare is upheld while allowing for new aviary designs.

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Much to the outrage of Canada’s export-minded farm groups, Bill C-202, a private member’s bill sponsored by Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet, was last month unceremoniously rammed through both the House of Commons and Senate and, last time I looked, now awaits royal assent.

C-202 is pretty much a copy-paste of the late Bill C-282, which, like many private members’ bills before it, was left to linger — in this case, at report stage before third reading in the Senate — and then die when Parliament was dissolved ahead of April’s federal election. Like its predecessor, C-202 amends section 10 of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act to prohibit the federal trade minister from committing Canada to either increase its tariff rate quota for imports of foreign dairy goods, poultry or eggs or reduce Canada’s tariffs on such imports beyond any existing TRQ. In other words, Canada would be prohibited by law from granting any further concessions on its supply-managed sectors in any ongoing or future trade talks.

From the perspective of the Bloc, it was probably the best of timing. One of the foundational free trade agreements governing Canadian exports has been rendered worthless in recent months by the very politician who scribbled his name in the U.S. president’s blank. Federal officials have no doubt been taking stock of what they could throw under the bus to appease Donald Trump — a guy who has previously and specifically railed against Canada’s supply management system and in recent months has abused his executive privilege to impose and/or threaten new tariffs against goods from Canada and beyond.

From the perspective of everyone else, though, the timing couldn’t have possibly been worse. Canada’s dairy and feather sector organizations have little choice but to be pleased with C-202’s passage, but can’t have been happy about having to continue to publicly justify their system’s existence. Canada’s export-minded ag sector groups, meanwhile, protested the passage of what the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance describes as a “flawed piece of legislation that sets a troubling precedent, undermining Canada’s longstanding commitment to the rules-based international trading system.”

That said, Canada’s commitment to the rules of international trade is not what’s in doubt here. As I hope I’ve implied in this space before, the problem is that the rules of the international trade game Canada is playing have proven to be only as solid as the other players’ willingness to abide by them.

For Canada to further weaken supply management under sustained international pressure for trade reform is one thing. Doing so at a time when we likely gain nothing in return — or worse, we continue to lose ground under whatever ridiculous pretext our southern neighbour comes up with next — is quite another.

The worst thing about C-202, though, is that it pitted farmer against farmer for political reasons at a time when an unwritten law of Canadian politics remains very much in effect anyway — namely, that being seen to mess with supply management is political suicide for any national party serious about forming a government.

It’s possible that unwritten law may someday change as public opinion continues to morph and evolve — and when or if that day ever comes, we can expect a repeal of the amendments now set out in C-202 to be among the first tests.

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I grew up around chickens on a small farm, but wasn’t sure what to expect from a large-scale operation. I imagined a lot of noise and a strong barn smell. What I experienced was the opposite.

The barn was calm and clean. The hens clucked softly as they scratched and pecked the floor. And thanks to impressive technology managing temperature, humidity, air flow and waste, it was remarkably lacking in smell.

Harley Siemens, a fourth-generation farmer, gently picked up a bird as he described how egg farming has changed over the years. His soft voice and steady hands said everything: while the technology in the barns may have evolved, the care and attention given to the birds remains the same.

We talked about supply management, hen nutrition, housing transitions and the journey of an egg from nest to store shelf. It was a reminder that behind every carton of eggs is a complex system designed to deliver safe, nutritious food to Canadians.

Eggs from Manitoba

Almost every egg you see in a Manitoba grocery store was laid on a Manitoba farm just days earlier. On average, eggs are delivered to stores within three to five days of being washed, graded, packed, and refrigerated.

Under Canada’s supply management system, farmers like Harley own a quota that allows them to produce a specific number of eggs to meet local demand. It’s a nationwide system that supports fair farm income, prevents overproduction and waste and ensures food security for Canadians.

Manitoba egg farms can house up to 125,000 laying hens, but most have fewer. The average sits around 17,000 hens.

Our farmers are transitioning from conventional housing (the typical small cages) to alternative housing systems that offer more space, nesting boxes, perches and scratch pads. Farmers can choose enriched housing that uses cages, free-run or free-range organic options.

So many egg choices

If you’ve ever stood at the grocery store egg cooler wondering what the difference is between free-run and free-range, or between Omega-3 and vitamin-enhanced eggs, you’re not alone. Here’s a quick guide:

Housing labels:

• Conventional (being phased out): Hens in small group cages, limited movement.

• Enriched, furnished, comfort coop or nest laid: More space, perches, scratch pads and private nest boxes.

• Free run: Hens roam inside the barn with access to perches and nests and can dust bathe. No outdoor access.

• Free range: Similar to free run, but with some outdoor access (weather dependent).

• Organic: Outdoor access, organic feed and enhanced barn environments.

• Pastured: Hens roam freely outdoors, usually on small farms.

Nutrient labels:

• Omega-3: Hens are fed flax seed and other sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

• Vitamin enhanced: Hens get extra nutrients like vitamins B12, D or E in their feed.

• Vegetarian: Feed contains no animal byproducts (Note: chickens are naturally omnivores).

Nutritionally, all eggs are a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals. Brown or white shells don’t affect nutrition. Shell colour is simply a result of the hen’s breed. Yolk colour varies with a hen’s diet and doesn’t necessarily mean the egg is fresher or more nutritious. The more greens, corn or calendula petals a hen eats, the darker the yolk.

Egg storage and safety

Have you ever wondered why people in other countries keep their eggs on the counter, while we store ours in the fridge? It all comes down to how different countries manage food safety and prevent salmonella illness.

In Canada, commercial eggs must be refrigerated because they’re washed to remove dirt and bacteria. This process also removes the egg’s natural protective layer, called the cuticle or bloom, making refrigeration essential.

In contrast, many countries choose to vaccinate their hens against salmonella and avoid washing eggs to preserve that protective coating.

The methods may differ, but the goal is the same — safe, fresh eggs. Here in Canada, we can do our part by keeping our eggs refrigerated.

Here’s how long you can expect to keep your eggs in the fridge:

• Raw eggs: See the best before date (although eggs are often good for a period afterward).

• Hard-cooked eggs in shell: seven days.

• Peeled hard-cooked eggs: five to seven days.

• Cooked egg dishes with other ingredients, such as quiche or egg roll: three to four days.

Food safety is always the priority. If you’re unsure, don’t eat them. If using raw eggs past the best before date, crack them into a separate bowl to ensure they look and smell as you would expect them to.

Whether you raise your own hens, buy eggs directly from a farmer or pick them up at the grocery store, you can’t go wrong. They’re nutritious, delicious and very versatile.

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Cheddar bacon egg chive roll

This egg roll is easy, flexible, and great for brunch, lunch, or even a light supper. You’ll love the fresh chives and delicate blossoms in early summer, but try it with dill, oregano, basil or thyme too. You can also vary this recipe to fill with ham and Swiss cheese, spinach and feta or sautéed mushrooms with gruyère.

Makes: three servings

Ingredients

• 6 large eggs

• 1/4 cup milk or cream

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/4 tsp pepper

• 2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped

• 1–2 tbsp chive blossoms (optional)

• Butter or oil for greasing pan

Filling:

• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

• 4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled

• Extra chive blossoms and chopped chives for garnish

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375F (190C). Line a 9×13-inch baking sheet with parchment and grease lightly.

Whisk eggs, milk, salt, pepper, chives and blossoms in a bowl.

Pour into the prepared pan, tilting to spread evenly. Bake eight–10 minutes, just until set.

Remove from oven, sprinkle with cheese and bacon. Gently roll up from the short side.

Slice and garnish. Serve warm or chill and reheat gently later.

Source: gettystewart.com

High protein egg sliders

Makes: 12 sandwiches

Ingredients

12 large eggs

1 cup cottage cheese (two per cent milk fat)

½ tsp each of salt and pepper

12 tray buns (soft dinner rolls)

4 tbsp honey Dijon mustard

200 grams deli turkey

200 grams deli ham

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

About 6 slices Havarti cheese

2 tbsp butter

½ tsp garlic powder

1 tsp parsley, fresh or dried

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375F (190C).

Line a 9×13-inch baking sheet with parchment paper.

Crack eggs into a blender. Add cottage cheese, salt and pepper and blend until smooth. Pour onto prepared baking sheetand bake for 20-25 minutes, or until eggs are cooked.

Remove and sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese while still hot. Set aside.

Slice tray buns horizontally (keeping the tops and bottoms paired). Spread both sides with mustard. Layer on deli turkeyand ham onto bottom halves.

Fold the cooked and cooled sheet-pan eggs in half and place on top of deli meat. Top with remaining Havarti cheese and tops of buns.

Cook the sliders. Place sliders on the sheet pan, cover with foil and heat in an oven set to 350F (180C) until the cheese melts, approximately 10-12 minutes. (These sliders can be made ahead, refrigerated overnight, and cooked the next day, making it great for serving a crowd).

While sliders are in the oven, melt margarine or butter and mix with garlic powder and chopped parsley.

Remove sliders from oven and brush with margarine mixture.

Return sliders to oven, uncovered, and let cook for another two to five minutes, until golden brown. Remove and serve warm.

Source: Manitoba Egg Farmers

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