AVERAGE weekly output of colony eggs in the UK has now dropped below 3 million dozen per week for the first time on record.
Total output of eggs for human consumption from enriched cages fell to 2.91 m doz/ wk in the second quarter of this year, from 3.06 m doz in the first quarter, according to this week’s published figures from Defra.
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At the same time, output of non-cage eggs from all systems (barn, free range and organic) set a new record during April-June, passing 18 m doz/wk for the first time.
Total UK egg production, however, was slightly down overall in the second quarter, compared with both of the two preceding quarters. Output in the April to June period was 20.92 m doz/wk, compared with 20.96 and 21.03 m doz/ wk respectively in Oct-Dec and Jan-Mar.
Looking back over a full year reveals the pace of change in a landmark 12 months for the egg sector, when the end of cage sales in the supermarkets met its deadline. After years of contraction, output of colony eggs had fallen by another 18 per cent in the first half of this year overall, compared with the first half of 2025.
Total production
Total colony production in the January-June period was down to 77.6 m doz, from 95.0 m doz a year earlier.
At the same time, production from all non-cage systems rose by 10 per cent year-on-year, from 426 m doz in the first half of 2025, to 468 m doz this year.
As a result, with the total UK laying flock through January-June this year averaging almost two million birds larger than in 2025, egg output was significantly greater. Total output reached 545 m doz in the first half, up 4.7% on a year earlier.
Market share of the various systems during the first half saw free range now taking three quarters (75.3%) of all UK production. Organic free range held another 3.5%, with barn at 7.0%. That still left colony systems with a 14.2% share of UK output.
The most recent figures for day-old pullet placings indicate that the laying flock will remain at around its present size until approaching Christmas. This follows a period when chick placings have largely marked time during the first half of the year.
