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NZ Egg Industry Key Statistics
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About the EPF
NZ Egg Farming
NZ Egg Industry Key Statistics
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Media information – Key facts and useful background on NZ egg farming

Home » Farming Types » Barn » Media information – Key facts and useful background on NZ egg farming

What is?

Free-range egg production – Birds have access to the range all day; maximum flock density is 2,500 birds per hectare (inside area density is 1111 square cm per bird); birds have perches, nest boxes and scratching areas
Barn production – Birds do not have access to range; inside density of 1428 square cms per bird; birds have perches, nesting boxes and scratching areas
Colony cage environment – Birds do not have access to range – up to 60 birds per enclosure – area of 750 square cm per bird; birds have perches, nest boxes and scratching areas
Conventional cage – being phased out by 31 December 2022. Note that cage eggs may still be purchased from stores until late January.

Consumption:

Egg consumption in NZ is currently 237 eggs per person per year (as at June 2021). 20 years ago per capita was 198 eggs, 10 years ago 233 eggs and 5 years ago 240 eggs
50% of households claim to buy eggs at least fortnightly; 29% buy weekly
On average households claim to buy 41 eggs a month
New Zealand has one of the highest consumption rates in the world.

Egg Supermarket sales:

Supermarkets account for over 50% of sales and are the only sales that are broken down by production source
The rest of sales are: commercial baking and small retail
Percent of supermarket sales (as at 20/11/2022):
- Conventional cage/Colony 48.1% (no outdoor access)
- Free-range 32.8% (outdoor access)
- Barn 17.5% (no outdoor access)
- Organic 0.9%
- Other 0.8%

Egg Consumers

Eggs are a staple in kiwi homes and in their food choices. As a favorite breakfast, versatile ingredient and choice for meals we eat on average 4.6 eggs a week
50% of households claim to buy eggs at least fortnightly; 29% buy weekly
On average households claim to buy 41 eggs a month
Pakeha NZ’ers account for 54% of egg purchase volume vs 63% of the population with an average monthly household purchase of 35 eggs (vs Asian population 52 eggs per month, Maori 50, Pacifica 48 and Indian 60)

Exports/Imports

Egg exports are primarily to the Pacific Islands, New Caledonia, PNG, Singapore and Hong Kong
NZ’s freedom from disease is a major factor in a growing export trade for eggs.

Biosecurity

Biosecurity is emerging as a major concern internationally with the advent of virulent strains of Avian Influenza – the avian equivalent of Foot and Mouth Disease
NZ is free of Avian Influenza, Newcastle Disease and Infectious Bursal Disease – three of the major poultry diseases that affect poultry flocks worldwide.
Neither eggs nor raw chicken meat can be imported into NZ for biosecurity reasons outlined above.

* Sources:

AC Nielsen supermarket data
MPI reports
consumer data ex February 2021 quantitative research project
per capita data ex NZ Govt statistics and NZ Egg industry production data

Latest News

Otago Fish & Game Council Media Release: Jan 27 2025

You’re not eating enough protein – here’s why

MPI Media Release: December 24, 2024

Government boosts support for avian influenza response – Media Release 19 December 2024

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About the Egg Producers Federation

The Egg Producers Federation of New Zealand Inc.
(EPF) represents the interests of all the commercial
egg farmers and producers in New Zealand.

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Helpful Links

NZ Eggs/I Love Eggs
Ministry for Primary Industries
NZ Feed Manufacturers Association
Poultry Industry Association New Zealand
WorkSafe New Zealand

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