Poultry farming in Austria

The trend in egg production was slightly downward in 2023. Whereas free-range husbandry has remained stable (+0 percent compared to the previous year), declines have been recorded both in organic production (-5.8 percent compared to the previous year) and in barn systems (-6.2 percent compared to the previous year). The production of table eggs in 2023 amounted with 2.21 billion table eggs (-1.6 percent compared to the previous year) less than in the year before; the degree of self-sufficiency was 90 percent.

In poultry meat production the degree of self-sufficiency fell from 77 percent (2022) to 73 percent (2023). A minus had to be recorded in all sectors. In 2023 the gross domestic production of poultry meat amounted to 149,481 tonnes. (- 1.5 percent compared to the previous year). In spite of the declines, more domestic poultry meat can be found on the market. Some food chains in Austria count at 100 percent on domestic produce in the fresh meat sector.

In poultry farming, unlike in dairy farming, where the calves from one’s own breeding are later used as dairy cows on the farm, a clear distinction is made between the production branches of chick production (hatchery), meat production (fattening farm) and egg production (laying hen farm).

Poultry husbandry is particularly popular for own consumption. In full-time or part-time farming there are larger units in order to be able to meet both hygienic and economic requirements