Whole bird prices in the U.S. have been pushed to record-highs on tight supplies – a situation that does not look to correct itself soon. Mississippi-based poultry group Sanderson Farms reported a doubling of profits from $24.37 million for February through April 2013 to $50.99 million for the same period this year. Sanderson chief executive Joe Sanderson states that demand for chicken is expected to remain strong especially due to the high price of competing proteins, but the breeder flock has contracted and as a result production will be constrained for the short term. At this time, U.S. stocks of chicken, beef, and pork are all declining. Pork in U.S. cold storage at the end of April was 17% below a year before, beef was 21% below, and chicken was 15% below last year’s levels.
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