Consumers should brace themselves for possible fresh egg and fresh chicken shortages as the results of avian influenza filter through.
Close to 100 outbreaks have been reported in South Africa, with hundreds of thousands of birds culled as a result.
Nigel Connellan, managing director of Western Gruppe Trading which runs 13 Spar outlets around East London, said there was already a shortage of fresh poultry on the market.
According to Connellan, a national chicken farmer was due to stop all fresh chicken production at the end of last month, which was expected to have a ripple effect on all other fresh chicken producers.
“All this will, and has, resulted in egg production shortages, as well as fresh poultry shortages. Fresh chicken is a huge concern for me. Avian flu has meant that at times farms were unable to get their day-old chicks, and this has had a ripple effect,” he said.
Connellan said avian flu is expected to have a huge effect on the consumer “on availability, as well as price”.
“Once again, it is all about supply and demand. If there is a stock shortage, the pricing will increase.”
According to the South African Poultry Association website, avian flu, also known as the H5N8 virus, affects several species of poultry including chickens, turkeys and geese, as well as guinea fowl and other wild birds.
Last month, media reports revealed that KFC had run out of Zinger wings in several outlets across the country.
KFC Africa spokeswoman Thanisa Mkhwanasi confirmed this, saying they were experiencing a wing shortage in some areas due to the impact of the outbreak of avian flu.
Stutterheim-based Anca Foods operations director Greg White was more optimistic, however, saying any chicken shortages would probably only be felt from next year.
Because Anca had not been hit by avian flu, White said they would continue to provide fresh chicken.
“I don’t see the supply of chicken becoming an issue right now. What may happen is that the frozen chicken suppliers may change to producing fresh chicken instead, but we also have plenty of imports coming in as well,” he said, adding that the next few months could see suppliers running out of day-old chicks.
“This may lead to a shortage, but only next year.”
The chief director of veterinary services at the department of rural development and agrarian reform, Dr Lubabalo Mrwebi, said the impact to the Eastern Cape had so far been minimal.
Mrwebi said the most serious case of avian flu was reported on a farm in Uitenhage, where 5000 chickens were infected.
The second case was a number of geese in Kirkwood.
With regard to chicken shortages, he said there had been a request from the poultry industry to import fertilised eggs from overseas.
“Which shows that there is a possible shortage in the country. As we have already seen in news reports, this shortage is already being felt by some franchises,” Mrwebi said. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za
Bird flu hits supplies in EC
Close to 100 outbreaks have been reported in South Africa, with hundreds of thousands of birds culled as a result.
Nigel Connellan, managing director of Western Gruppe Trading which runs 13 Spar outlets around East London, said there was already a shortage of fresh poultry on the market.
According to Connellan, a national chicken farmer was due to stop all fresh chicken production at the end of last month, which was expected to have a ripple effect on all other fresh chicken producers.
“All this will, and has, resulted in egg production shortages, as well as fresh poultry shortages. Fresh chicken is a huge concern for me. Avian flu has meant that at times farms were unable to get their day-old chicks, and this has had a ripple effect,” he said.
Connellan said avian flu is expected to have a huge effect on the consumer “on availability, as well as price”.
“Once again, it is all about supply and demand. If there is a stock shortage, the pricing will increase.”
According to the South African Poultry Association website, avian flu, also known as the H5N8 virus, affects several species of poultry including chickens, turkeys and geese, as well as guinea fowl and other wild birds.
Last month, media reports revealed that KFC had run out of Zinger wings in several outlets across the country.
KFC Africa spokeswoman Thanisa Mkhwanasi confirmed this, saying they were experiencing a wing shortage in some areas due to the impact of the outbreak of avian flu.
Stutterheim-based Anca Foods operations director Greg White was more optimistic, however, saying any chicken shortages would probably only be felt from next year.
Because Anca had not been hit by avian flu, White said they would continue to provide fresh chicken.
“I don’t see the supply of chicken becoming an issue right now. What may happen is that the frozen chicken suppliers may change to producing fresh chicken instead, but we also have plenty of imports coming in as well,” he said, adding that the next few months could see suppliers running out of day-old chicks.
“This may lead to a shortage, but only next year.”
The chief director of veterinary services at the department of rural development and agrarian reform, Dr Lubabalo Mrwebi, said the impact to the Eastern Cape had so far been minimal.
Mrwebi said the most serious case of avian flu was reported on a farm in Uitenhage, where 5000 chickens were infected.
The second case was a number of geese in Kirkwood.
With regard to chicken shortages, he said there had been a request from the poultry industry to import fertilised eggs from overseas.
“Which shows that there is a possible shortage in the country. As we have already seen in news reports, this shortage is already being felt by some franchises,” Mrwebi said. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za
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