China Animal Husbandry Association: Initiative on Promoting High-Quality Development of China’s Layer Industry

On October 11, 2025, the China Animal Husbandry Association convened a symposium on the high-quality development of the layer industry. Leading executives from more than 20 key enterprises across China—covering breeding layers, commercial egg production, branded eggs, and egg-processing sectors—attended to exchange views. During the meeting, an “Initiative on Promoting the High-Quality Development of China’s Layer Industry” was adopted, jointly launched by the National Layer Industry Technology System, 15 provincial-level industry associations, and 37 layer‑raising enterprises.

An Initiative to Promote High-Quality Development of China’s Layer Chicken Industry

Over more than four decades of development, China’s layer‑hen industry has consistently ranked among the leading sectors of the national livestock sector, excelling in areas such as breed‑improvement technologies, the scale of farming operations, and the size of the consumer market. However, influenced by multiple factors, since 2023 the country’s laying‑hen inventory has remained at a high level, with production capacity shifting from previous temporary oversupply to a sustained, structural surplus. Coupled with weak demand growth, intensifying cost‑driven competition, persistently low product prices, and a sharp decline in industry profitability, the layer‑hen sector has entered an unprecedented period of profound structural adjustment. To address the current bottlenecks hindering the development of China’s layer‑hen industry and to further promote high‑quality growth, we hereby issue the following call to action:

1. Optimize the supply structure and refrain from blindly expanding new production capacity. We call for proactively phasing out inefficient and outdated capacity based on existing levels, while avoiding any further indiscriminate expansion of new capacity. At present, the industry’s predicament—stemming from overcapacity in hog production—serves as a cautionary tale for other livestock and poultry sectors: it is imperative to establish a dynamic equilibrium mechanism centered on market demand. Operators must cultivate a strong sense of self-awareness, maintain a respectful attitude toward the market at all times, resolutely oppose cutthroat competition, and steer the industry away from “quantity‑driven” rivalry toward “quality‑driven” competition.

2. Uphold the compliance baseline to safeguard the foundation of egg safety. We call for strict adherence to National Law No. 278 issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, as well as other relevant national laws and standards, resolutely preventing eggs with excessive drug residues from entering the market and jointly protecting the market reputation of “antibiotic‑free eggs.”

3. Strengthen the traceability system to ensure end-to-end transparency. We propose leveraging digital technologies to build a robust traceability framework, giving each egg in the market its own “identity record” and ensuring that traceability information covers every stage of egg production, so consumers can shop with confidence and eat with peace of mind.

4. Uphold green principles to drive healthy, sustainable development. We advocate integrating ecological conservation with productive development to establish an ecological closed-loop system—“livestock manure–organic fertilizer–crop cultivation”—while promoting energy‑saving, resource‑efficient farming practices, thereby achieving a win-win outcome for both economic and ecological benefits.

5. Strengthen brand development to promote high-quality, premium‑priced products. We call for the establishment of a comprehensive, standardized system covering the entire value chain of branded egg products, continued efforts to cultivate and elevate brand recognition, compelling storytelling to enhance brand competitiveness, and the creation of egg brands that reflect regional characteristics or wield national influence.

6. Extend the processing chain and expand channels for value addition in the industry. We propose extending the egg-processing and deep-processing value chain to balance supply and demand for fresh eggs, absorb excess production capacity, and enhance product value; at the same time, we will implement an “going global” strategy to mitigate price risks arising from domestic overcapacity.

7. Mitigate core risks and support the stable operation of the industry. We call for the establishment of an epidemic monitoring and early-warning system, the widespread adoption of standardized disease-prevention protocols, and measures to minimize the impact of disease outbreaks on the sector. Additionally, we advocate for prudent cost–benefit management, the implementation of a dynamic cash-flow monitoring mechanism, and the timely identification and resolution of liquidity pressures.

Colleagues, the high-quality development of the layer‑chicken industry is vital to people’s well-being and to the modernization of agriculture. Let us join forces to implement this initiative: stabilize production through scientific management; ensure safety by strictly limiting antibiotic use; build trust across the entire supply chain through comprehensive traceability; pursue long-term sustainability through green development; enhance profitability through brand building; address overcapacity by expanding markets; and safeguard our bottom line by proactively managing risks. Together, we will propel China’s layer‑chicken sector into a new stage of higher quality, greater efficiency, and greater sustainability, thereby contributing to national food security and the all‑round revitalization of rural areas.

October 24, 2025

Original article link: Initiative on Promoting High-Quality Development of China’s Layer Industry (caaa.cn)

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