Bird flu outbreak in Ibaraki prompts culling of nearly 970,000 hens

A highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak has been confirmed at a poultry farm in Ibaraki Prefecture, marking the first case of the season in eastern Japan. The infection, detected in Shirosato, will result in the culling of approximately 970,000 egg-laying hens—the largest single culling operation in Japan this season.

Impact on Poultry and Egg Supply

This is the 10th bird flu case at a poultry farm in Japan this season, bringing the total number of chickens slated for culling to around 3.65 million. The outbreak renews concerns over egg supply stability, following a record 84 cases across 26 prefectures in the 2022–2023 season, during which about 17.71 million birds were culled and egg prices surged sharply.

Rising Egg Prices and Market Pressure

Egg prices have been climbing this season, with the wholesale price for midsize eggs in the Tokyo area reaching 345 yen ($2.21) per kilogram on Thursday—nearly matching the peak of 350 yen recorded in March–June 2023. The latest outbreak is expected to exacerbate supply constraints and place further upward pressure on prices, affecting both consumers and food industries.