Highly pathogenic avian influenza leads to culling of broiler chickens...summer peak season chicken production is expected to be insufficient

The culling of 350,000 meat-producing hens accounts for more than 5% of the total number of meat-producing hens in the country. Most poultry farms raising meat-producing hens have their flocks participating in production that are being culled, making it urgent to devise measures. Due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) in the 2025/2026 season, it is expected that 350,000 meat-producing hens will be culled at poultry farms, leading to a decrease in summer peak season chicken production, raising concerns. According to the industry, the 350,000 meat-producing hens culled this time account for more than 5% of the total number of meat-producing hens in the country. Kwon Jeong-oh, Executive Director of the Korean Poultry Association, explained, "Most of the poultry farms raising meat-producing hens affected by highly pathogenic AI this time are broiler farms, and the flocks participating in production are being culled, which is expected to affect chicken production from the first ...