Run-out egg should take an example from meadow milk

The indoor confinement obligation in the poultry sector was withdrawn yesterday, 20 April. The risk of infection has almost disappeared. A great relief for poultry farmers, given that they have been plagued with significant losses in recent months due to the label: free-range instead of free-range. A difference of 2,5 cents per egg.  

According to Jan Brok, secretary of the Dutch Union of Poultry Farmers (NVP), the poultry sector can use meadow milk as an example to the confinement obligation bridge financially.

Did the decision of State Secretary Van Dam come as a surprise to you?
'The decision to withdraw the confinement obligation was in the air somewhere. But when we heard the news yesterday, it came as a surprise. We are pleased that Van Dam has implemented an acute decision, which took effect immediately. This prevents unrest. When a decision is pending, there is a chance that poultry farmers will wait speculatively before stamping eggs. After all, the difference between the two numbers is approximately 2,5 cents per egg. That multiplied by the number of eggs can make a big difference per day. Now this is not the case. The eggs laid until 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon must be stamped with a 2 (free-range egg). The eggs laid today may again be printed with a 1 (free range).'

How do you view the attitude of retailers during the confinement obligation? (Various supermarkets have been selling free-range eggs in recent months under the guise of free range, while poultry farmers were paid less)
'It is unfortunate that this fuss has arisen and that several supermarkets have not declared their solidarity with the producers. If consumers had simply been informed, by means of a sticker with an explanation, this problem could have been prevented. Now several supermarkets, including Albert Heijn, have misled consumers and thus stretched their margins over the backs of farmers. This could have been better. We must learn from this in the future.'

Can you estimate the ultimate damage?
'Direct damage of 10 million euros is a rough, but realistic estimate. Indirectly, the damage can be much higher. Image damage is difficult to determine. The damage is still mounting. Several markets for the export of poultry meat have been closed in recent months. There is no guarantee that these markets will be won back. In addition, certain countries have an outbreak-free period of 6 to 12 months. These, usually distant, sales markets are therefore still closed to export. The Netherlands has a self-sufficiency rate of approximately 300 percent. That is why the cold stores are now fuller than usual. The Netherlands is unique in that regard. For example, Germany is mainly an importing country and therefore suffers much less from export damage.'

What are the chances that bird flu will strike again?
“The opportunity is very real. There is currently a variant in Asia that is also contagious to humans. We should not think that this will spill over to Europe. We must therefore always have a finger on the pulse. Fortunately, we can conclude that bird flu has nothing to do with animal numbers. As a result, an important prejudice has been disproved. The risk of contamination comes directly from wild birds migrating. Since wild birds come over every year, the risk of infection comes back every year. About 1 gram of contaminated bird manure can kill 100 million chickens.'

What can the poultry sector do to prevent bird flu?
'Prevention is the most important thing. Everything stands or falls with the use of hygiene protocols. This means that poultry farmers, transporters and those entering the yard have a great deal of responsibility. Vaccine does have potential, however. However, current vaccines do not yet work well or only partially. It is primarily a cost-increasing agent, which only offers protection for a few variants. Perhaps this will get better in the future. During the migration season, the risk of infection remains very high. A structural confinement obligation may perhaps offer a solution when the risk of contamination is extra high. If the consumer is then properly informed, there need be no economic damage. Meadow milk is a good example of this. These cows have to go outside for at least 120 days a year, while meadow milk is for sale all year round. Most consumers understand this.'

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is editor-in-chief of Boerenbusiness. He also focuses on dairy, pig and meat markets. He also follows (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

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