Latest news with #eggproduction
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Egg factory 'would house 64,000 free range hens'
A proposed egg production facility near Eastrington in East Yorkshire could house 64,000 birds. Plans for the facility at Owsthorpe Farm have been submitted to East Riding of Yorkshire Council to consider. According to documents, the applicants "are seeking to diversity their farming business with the development of a free-range egg production unit". The plans also include automated systems for feeding, drinking, lighting, and ventilation. The application includes the erection of a separate egg packing and storage building. Documents seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service state the site - accessed from an existing track off Mill Lane - would include two poultry buildings, each housing 32,000 free range laying hens aged between 17 and 70 weeks. The applicants state: "The proposed development is a modern and efficient livestock production unit that is designed to fulfil a modern demand for cheap and environmentally efficiently produced food." The development would operate in accordance with the British Egg Industry Councils Lion Code of Practice, and the RSPCA Freedom Foods guidance. The site would employ three full-time staff. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices More on this story Campaigners fight poultry farm plans Related internet links Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
20-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Eastrington egg production factory 'would house 64,000 free range hens'
A proposed egg production facility near Eastrington in East Yorkshire could house 64,000 for the facility at Owsthorpe Farm have been submitted to East Riding of Yorkshire Council to to documents, the applicants "are seeking to diversity their farming business with the development of a free-range egg production unit".The plans also include automated systems for feeding, drinking, lighting, and ventilation. The application includes the erection of a separate egg packing and storage building. Documents seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service state the site - accessed from an existing track off Mill Lane - would include two poultry buildings, each housing 32,000 free range laying hens aged between 17 and 70 weeks. The applicants state: "The proposed development is a modern and efficient livestock production unit that is designed to fulfil a modern demand for cheap and environmentally efficiently produced food."The development would operate in accordance with the British Egg Industry Councils Lion Code of Practice, and the RSPCA Freedom Foods site would employ three full-time staff. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
Globe and Mail
25-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
CALM's Strategic Cage-Free Expansion Sets It for Solid Market Gains
Cal-Maine Foods CALM is moving ahead with its $60 million expansion plan, aimed at expanding capacity for 1.1 million cage-free layer hens and 250,000 pullets by end of 2025. This is part of CALM's multi-year strategy to capitalize on shifting consumer preference for cage-free eggs. With ten U.S. states enforcing cage-free egg production by 2030, around 73% of U.S non-organic laying hens will need to be transitioned to cage-free systems to meet demand. To address this evolving market, Cal-Maine has been strategically scaling its cage-free operations through a combination of organic investments and acquisitions. The company has been upgrading existing facilities and converting conventional housing to cage-free environments. Cal-Maine's inorganic growth efforts are equally significant. In 2022, it acquired the remaining 50% interest in Red River Valley Egg Farm, adding around 1.7 mm cage free layers. The acquisition of Fassio Egg Farms, Inc in September 2023 increased capacity by 1.2 million laying hens, primarily cage-free. The acquisition of ISE America, Inc. in late 2024 added an additional 1 million cage-free laying hens. Backed by its efforts, cage-free eggs now account for a larger share of CALM's product mix and represented approximately 29.5% of its total net shell egg sales in fiscal year 2024. While cage-free egg production is more expensive than for conventional eggs, it supports premium pricing, offering a long-term growth driver for Cal-Maine. Post Holdings Steps Up Cage-Free Investment Post Holdings, Inc. POST is also incurring additional operating and capital costs to procure cage-free eggs, modify existing layer hen facilities and construct new cage-free layer hen housing and comply with other farm animal initiatives. Post Holdings' investment plan for 2025 includes the completion of the Norwalk, IA, precooked egg facility expansion and continued cage-free egg facility expansion, for aggregate expenditures of $80-$90 million. Vital Farms' Pasteur-Raised Offerings Have an Edge The specialty egg (including pasture raised and free-range) market has witnessed a CAGR of 21.4% between 2020 and 2024 to reach $8.3 billion in retail sales in 2024. Vital Farms, Inc. VITL, the leading U.S. pasture-raised egg brand, is riding strong consumer demand, with customers willing to pay more for ethically sourced, transparent and sustainable food. Vital Farms continues to accelerate supply expansion. During the first quarter of 2025, Vital Farms added new family farms to its network, which now exceeds 450 family farmers. Vital Farms' internal capacity expansion plans also remain on track, with the construction of an additional egg washing and packing line at its Egg Central Station facility in Missouri slated for completion during the fourth quarter of 2025, as originally scheduled. CALM's Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates Cal-Maine gained 68.1% in a year against the industry 's 9.2% decline. CALM is currently trading at a forward 12-month price/earnings (P/E) ratio of 17.84X compared with the industry's 11.32X. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cal-Maine's fiscal 2025 earnings is $22.73 per share, indicating a year-over-year increase of 299.5%. The estimate for fiscal 2026 of $5.71 indicates a 74.9% decline. The chart below depicts the revision activity for CALM's earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026. CALM currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Only $1 to See All Zacks' Buys and Sells We're not kidding. Several years ago, we shocked our members by offering them 30-day access to all our picks for the total sum of only $1. No obligation to spend another cent. Thousands have taken advantage of this opportunity. Thousands did not - they thought there must be a catch. Yes, we do have a reason. We want you to get acquainted with our portfolio services like Surprise Trader, Stocks Under $10, Technology Innovators, and more, that closed 256 positions with double- and triple-digit gains in 2024 alone. See Stocks Now >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (CALM): Free Stock Analysis Report Post Holdings, Inc. (POST): Free Stock Analysis Report Vital Farms, Inc. (VITL): Free Stock Analysis Report
Zawya
19-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: Boosting egg production amid growing demand
MUSCAT - Oman Flour Mills, through its subsidiary Arabian Food Production, is producing an impressive 500 million eggs annually and has announced plans to expand output by 15 per cent over the next two years. According to Dr Suheel Ahmed, CEO of Arabian Food Production, this strategic expansion aligns with the Sultanate of Oman's drive towards food security and self-sufficiency. 'We are committed to strengthening our contribution to the local market while maintaining a robust export base,' he said, adding that Oman reached 102 per cent self-sufficiency in egg production in 2024. Currently, 25 per cent of the company's egg production is exported to neighbouring countries including the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. However, seasonal shifts in consumption continue to pose a challenge. 'Demand typically dips in summer, during school holidays, and throughout Ramadan. While our production cycle can't adapt to these fluctuations, we manage the surplus by expanding our regional distribution network,' Dr Ahmed explained. To ensure top-quality production, the company has invested heavily in advanced technologies at its new farm. Modern equipment minimises human contact, reduces labour costs, and ensures precise control over environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. 'Our automated systems collect, grade and package over 1.3 million eggs daily, enhancing hygiene and reducing breakage,' he said. Beyond productivity gains, sustainability is also a core focus. The company has introduced energy- and water-efficient systems and ensures all poultry waste is treated on-site to reduce environmental impact. Additionally, culled birds are processed into poultry meal and fat, which are supplied to other industries such as pet food manufacturing. Dr Ahmed emphasised that maintaining high standards would not be possible without strong international partnerships. Arabian Food Production sources its birds from the German Lohmann breed and collaborates with leading global machinery manufacturers. Japanese firm ISE Foods, a key shareholder, also provides technical expertise to support ongoing improvements.
The Independent
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
One of the nation's largest egg producers has lost 95% of its chickens to bird flu. It could spell price hikes
Arizona's largest egg producer has lost 95 percent of its chickens due to the bird flu, signaling a potential price increase for eggs. On Monday, the Arizona Department of Agriculture announced a third commercial farm had tested positive for bird flu in Maricopa County. At the same time, Hickman's Egg Ranch, which is Arizona's largest egg producer and one of the nation's top 20 producers, has had to destroy the chickens at three of its four farms due to the bird flu. "All of our layer flocks have been on the west side of town, have been determined to be positive. We're in the act of depopulating those farms and removing the chickens and trying to start the cleanup process," Glenn Hickman, the president and CEO of Hickman's Egg Ranch, told Fox 10 Phoenix. Hickman expressed his frustration at the three-year-long flu forcing him to destroy egg-laying chickens. "You know, since this outbreak started in February of 2022, we've lost 170 million birds and that's just got to stop," he said. According to Hickman, it will take 20 months to fully repopulate his farms. The company is trying to get by in the meantime with help from other farms. "Thankfully, we have some other farmers that we are cooperative with, and some of those have had some extra eggs. So we've been able to kind of reshift and reprioritize where those eggs are going," he said. While egg prices have been lowering around the country since they spiked earlier this year, a supply chain expert told Fox 10 Phoenix that there is a chance that egg prices in Arizona will increase. "Hickman's supplies about 80 percent of Arizona's egg production. You are reducing about 80 percent of Arizona's supply chain from about 2.2 billion to 450 million eggs," Hitendra Chaturvedi, an Arizona State University Professor of Practice for the department of supply chain management told the broadcaster. Hickman disagreed, and said the impact of losing his chickens on the market will be "pretty nominal." Arizona's egg struggles are playing out as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is singing President Donald Trump 's praises for a reduction in egg prices. She blamed the spike in egg prices on former President Joe Biden 's administration. "I remember my very first briefing, I was asked about the cost of eggs, the reporter tried to insinuate this administration was at fault, even though he had only been here for a few days or weeks," Leavitt said. "It was a result of the previous administration's terrible polices and in record time, this president has fixed that problem he inherited from Joe Biden, and prices have dropped 61 percent since this president took office." According to Trading Economics data, white, large shell eggs are around $2.52 per dozen nationally. On January 21, the same carton would have cost approximately $6.49, nationally. According to analysts at Clarify Capital, the price drop is partially a result of Americans buying fewer eggs due to their spike in prices — thus creating more supply — and a lull in new bird flu cases. Reuters also reported in April that the U.S. has increased its egg imports from Turkey, Brazil, and South Korea to help bolster supply and bring down prices. Since the outbreak began in 2022, the bird flu has affects more than 166 million birds, including 127 million egg laying birds.
