- Alberta’s domestic production in 2015 was 136.7 million kilograms of live weight. This is an increase of 9.43 million kg, or 7.4 percent, from 2014.
- Canada’s 2015 domestic production is estimated to be 1.43 billion live kg, an increase of 46.06 million live kg, or 3.33 percent from 2014.
- Thirteen percent of Alberta’s total production was leased in 2015, an increase of 7.6 percent from 2014. The main reason was increased allocation to Alberta and barn density requirements.
- Chicken was the No. 1 protein in Canada in 2014 at 30.1 kg, followed by beef at 26.5 kg and pork at 20.6 kg.
- Total Canadian meat consumption in Canada was 86.7 kg, a drop of nearly 12 kg since the peak amount of 98.6 kg in 1999.
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RED DEER — Chicken has become a mighty force pushing beef and pork aside.
Last year, each Canadian ate an average of 31.7 kg of chicken, 26.5 kg of beef and 20.6 kg of pork. It was a record level of poultry consumption and makes Chicken Farmers of Canada more willing to increase quota allocations across the country.
“As an industry, we are hoping and expecting this growth to continue for awhile,” said Alberta’s David Hyink, a director to the national board.
Retail demand continues to increase, even as the economy slumps. Alberta had 10.7 percent growth in retail sales over the last year for all cuts, including thighs, wings and breasts, he told Alberta Chicken Producers’ annual meeting in Red Deer March 1.
All provinces agreed to live under a reformed allocation formula created in September 2014 to permit growth across the country. Alberta had dropped out of the national agreement because it wanted more quota to match provincial growth. Alberta is likely to rejoin the national body soon as terms of the agreement are settled.
The new allocation setting process is more streamlined and should offer growth to all provinces, said Chicken Farmers of Canada chair David Janzen.
“Since we started setting allocation on the basis of the new agreement back in July of 2014, every province has grown at least 5.6 percent and we are on track to grow significantly again in 2016,” he said.
The national organization has further plans for promotion as chicken’s popularity grows.
“Raised by a Canadian farmer” brand on every package of chicken is part of a national marketing scheme that will continue for two more years at retail stores and in restaurants.
A longer-term goal is to create a national promotion and research agency for chicken funded with farmer checkoffs and import fees.
barbara.duckworth@producer.com
