On September 19^th 2025 the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) issued actual values for egg production during 2024 with an updated projection for 2025 and a forecast for 2026. Production, consumption and prices were revised from the previous August 18^th 2024 report.

Projected egg production for 2025 was adjusted downward from 7,737 million dozen in 2024 by 4.4 percent to 7,398 million dozen due to progressive depletion of hen flocks as a result of HPAI through Q1 2025 with incident cases occurring subsequently in April and May totaling 36.2 million hens. The per capita consumption of shell eggs and liquids combined for 2025 will be 262.0 eggs, down 9.6 egg equivalents (-3.5 percent) from 2024. The projected average 2025 benchmark New York bulk unit price was raised 101 cents over 2024 to 404 cents per dozen. On September 19^th the price was 229 cents per dozen reflecting increased supply to that market. Subsequent USDA projections will provide greater clarity on the recovery in consumption in an economy that is undergoing deflation in all food categories with the outstanding exception of eggs.

Restoration in flock size after HPAI depletions in 2022 progressed at a net rate of approximately 1.0 million per week. Placements were limited by the availability of pullet chicks and for some producers by the rate of conversion to alternative housing systems. Restoration of the national flock was compromised by a resurgence of HPAI with 40.0 million layers depleted during 2024 but with replacement averaging 24 million pullets per month. On January1^st the total egg-producing flock was estimated by USDA to be 304 million hens, 22 million or 6.8 percent below the nominal flock averaging 326 million hens during 2021 before the onset of the ongoing HPAI epornitic. Effective September 15^th the total national flock attained 300.8 million, approximately 25.2 million (-7.7 percent) below the pre-HPAI level. The productive flock was estimated by the USDA to be 293.5 million on September 7^th. Cage-free flocks attained 136 million or 45.2 percent of the total. In their September report The Egg Industry Center forecast a total flock of 319.6 million at the beginning of December. Unpredictable factors affecting flock size and hence price will include consumer demand as influenced by recently lower shelf prices and the extent of possible losses during the early winter of this year.

Exports of eggs and products at approximately 1.8 percent of total production over the first half of 2025 did not materially affect the domestic price. The U.S. is currently a net importer of egg products and shell eggs for breaking. Future export volume will be constrained by high domestic prices, international competition and disease-related embargos.

The USDA forecast for 2026 includes production of 7,950 million dozen, up an optimistic 7.5 percent from 2025. Projected consumption will be 276.4 eggs per capita. This forecast presumes substantial control of HPAI and an adequate supply of replacement chicks and pullets. These are both speculative assumptions in the absence of approved vaccination in high-risk areas. The increase, if it were to become reality would depress the NY Large benchmark price to an average of $2.11 per dozen compared to the 2025 value of $4.04 per dozen for conventional Large white-shelled product in cartons.

Updated September 2024 USDA data is shown in the table below:-

*Data influenced by HPAI losses.

Sources:  1. Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook released September 19^th 2025

The Big Dutchman EggTrax egg transfer drive was designed to achieve gentle egg movement from the collecting belt to the elevator or conveyor.  The drive reduces shell damage at the critical point of transfer with soft pressure applied by the fingers and supplemented by wires with adjustable tension.  The EggTrax unit operates at a standard conveying speed of 13.1 feet per minute and is available in three drive widths, ranging from 9.7 inches to 19.7 inches.  The unit is capable of transferring eggs onto either a rod conveyor or a vertical elevator.  During operation, the tension of the pressure and drive rollers can be adjusted using access doors.

The EggTrax drive unit incorporates a cleaning brush for the belt to remove dirt and feathers at the point of transfer.  The unit can be removed from the line simply by lifting from the installed position and can be cleaned using water at normal pressure.

The EggTrax Ultra model is designed for extended row lengths up to 700 feet.  The EggTrax Ultra incorporates additional bracing for the frame, consistent with conveying speeds of up to 24.6 feet per minute.  All the features of the EggTrax model are incorporated into EggTrax Ultra, including identical drive and pressure rollers to simplify maintenance.  The system operates with a duplex chain drive.

Field trials are in progress in the U.S. to determine the benefit of the EggTrax unit in reducing shell damage at the point of transfer.  Currently, customers selecting from among the range of Big Dutchman NATURA® aviary systems specify EggTrax for their systems.

EggTrax and EggTrax Ultra offer potential benefits for existing installations as a retrofit.  For the purpose of calculation, a capital cost installed for the EggTrax model of approximately $3,500 per unit is assumed. Annual operation costs will amount to $945, including depreciation at 20%, interest at 5% and maintenance and labor at 2%.  Considering a flock of 100,000 hens, the equivalent of ten units would be required, depending on aviary configuration and the number of rows, contributing to an initial capital cost of $35,000 with an annual fixed cost of $9,450.

For each 1% saving in downgrades from the flock of 100,000 hens at 80% production, an additional 67 dozen eggs per day would be packed and sold that would otherwise have been diverted to breaking stock.  At the end of August, nest run cage-free brown was valued at $2.27 per dozen using the published USDA negotiated price, with breaking stock at $1.39 per dozen.  The loss associated with downgrading to breaking stock is therefore $0.88 per dozen into the grader.  The incremental benefit from the flock from reducing downgrades by each one percent amounts to $59 per day or $21,535 per annum, approximating 75% of the initial capital cost.  This calculation is based on the stated nest run differential at the end of August, representing an annual low, and does not consider margins after packing.

If production margin is incorporated in the financial evaluation, an additional $0.18 per dozen can be added to the benefit, assuming a packing and packaging cost of $0.60 per dozen and a price into a warehouse of $3.05 per dozen. This would add $4,402 to annual revenue, contributing to a payback period of 16 months for each one percent reduction in downgrades.

It is recognized that shell damage due to impact at the point of transfer may well attain two percent or more, especially in old installations, during summer, and in aged flocks, further contributing to the return on investment in EggTrax installations.