Poultry

East remained focus of significant growth

The poultry sector also experienced significant growth since 1996, and Eastern Canada remained the focus of production. Poultry and egg production, like dairy, is supply-managed in Canada. Producers must buy "quota" in order to go into business. Quota restricts the amount of a supply-managed commodity a province can produce.

Canadian consumers are eating more chicken, more often. Per capita chicken consumption rose steadily between 1996 and 2000, to nearly 29 kilograms a year. Farmers reported 126.2 million hens and chickens in 2001. Chickens raised for meat represented 69% of all these birds; the rest are laying hens and pullets intended for laying. After reaching a per capita low of just over 14 dozen in 1995, egg consumption increased steadily to nearly 16 dozen in 2000. Ontario and Quebec are the top two producers.

The production of broilers, roasters and Cornish hens reached 1.1 billion kilograms, a jump of 35.0% from five years previously. Ontario's and Quebec's combined efforts amounted to just under 60% of total production.

Turkey production rose 13.3% during that period, to 178.2 million kilograms. The number of turkeys on Canadian farms declined by 5.5%, suggesting that the average turkey weighs more than ever before. Ontario and Quebec are again the main turkey producers but Ontario's share (41.4%) is almost double that of its neighbour (23.3%).

Commercial poultry hatcheries, which supply the egg and meat sectors, also contributed to gains in the poultry sector. In five years, the number of chicks hatched rose by 22.4% to 686.5 million. Again, Ontario and Quebec teamed up for almost 60% of the total.