Irish chicken industry grapples with significant obstacles

The Irish poultry industry—a key pillar in the country’s agri-food sector—is encountering a range of converging challenges. These include surging input costs, persistent avian influenza outbreaks, evolving consumer preferences, and intense market competition.

Outbreaks of Avian Influenza

• Avian influenza (AI) continues to pose a serious threat to Irish poultry producers.
• Despite enhanced biosecurity protocols following DAFM and DAERA guidance, frequent outbreaks have resulted in mandated culling, production disruptions, and trade uncertainties.
• These disruptions have impacted both table egg and broiler sectors, pressing producers to invest heavily in disinfection measures, housing orders, and compensation-related clean‑up operations.

Rising production costs

Producers are also battling a steep rise in operating costs:

• Feed prices have escalated amid global grain market volatility.
• Energy and labor expenses—including increased minimum wage (€13.50/hr), pension contributions, and sick leave—have significantly inflated expenditures.
• Capital requirements for welfare improvements and biosecurity systems have further pushed investment needs.

Animal welfare and consumer demand

Irish consumers and retailers are increasingly prioritizing higher welfare standards:

• Shifts away from enriched-cage systems to barn, free-range, or organic production are intensifying.
• NGO pressure is further compelling producers to upgrade infrastructure, often without guaranteed contract coverage.
• Despite convenience and a healthy image, poultry consumption shows slower per capita growth (1.6 kg/year) than in past decades.
• Additionally, consumers demand more nutritious, low-carbon, and sustainably produced poultry.

Market competition and trade pressures

The Irish poultry industry faces stiff competition from imports:

• Despite domestic products dominating retail, foodservice relies heavily on cheaper foreign poultry.
• Between 2023 and 2024, imports rose from €578 M to €627 M, reflecting reliance on external supply.
• Exports increased modestly to €295 M in 2024, led by UK demand; however, Irish producers still contend with a price disadvantage compared to global competitors.

Sustainability and innovation pressures

To remain competitive and responsible, the industry must embrace sustainability:

• The Ibec/Ireland Poultry Sustainability Roadmap outlines goals through 2030, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, optimizing manure use, and transitioning to renewable energy.
• Circular economy strategies include using poultry litter for crop fertilization and benchmarking carbon footprints.
• The sector already boasts low antibiotic usage and high levels of packaging recycling, yet further transparency and standardized reporting are needed.

These interconnected challenges—economic, health-related, welfare-driven, trade-related, and environmental—require coordinated solutions involving industry groups, government support, and systems innovation. Only by addressing each dimension can Ireland’s poultry sector secure a sustainable and resilient future.