Germany: Egg production increased by 4.2 percent in 2024
Barn-based systems remained the dominant system, accounting for 58.0% of eggs produced, although the share declined again compared to the previous year (2023: 58.8%). A five-year comparison with 2019 reveals the downward trend in barn-based systems: Back then, 62.9% of eggs produced in Germany came from barn-based systems. In contrast, the share of free-range eggs continued to rise in 2024, reaching 23.6% (2023: 23.0%; 2019: 19.5%). The share of organic eggs was 14.1%, also increasing compared to the previous year (2023: 13.4%; 2019: 11.5%). The remaining 4.3% of egg production came from small group and enriched cage systems (2023: 4.9%; 2019: 6.1%). A total of 45.3 million laying hens were kept on average per year on the farms surveyed. This means that each hen will lay an average of 302 eggs in 2024.
Egg production in free-range hens increases significantly
The average number of laying hens in barn systems increased by 1.0%, or 260,000, to 26.1 million birds in 2024. The number of eggs produced from this system increased by 2.8%, or 218 million, to 7.9 billion eggs. A good third (34.4%) of the barn eggs came from Lower Saxony. Another nearly third was produced in the three federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia (12.4%), Saxony (10.3%), and Brandenburg (9.4%).
The average number of free-range laying hens again increased significantly by 5.1%, or 518,000, to 10.7 million birds. Free-range egg production increased by 7.1%, or 215 million, to 3.2 billion eggs. Almost two-thirds of these eggs came from the states of Lower Saxony (45.5%), Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (10.5%), and Bavaria (9.4%).
Strong increase in organic farming, small group and cage farming continues to decline
The average number of laying hens in organic production increased again in 2024 by 6.4%, or 389,000, to 6.5 million birds, following a slight decline in the previous year. This was accompanied by a significant increase in the number of organic eggs, by 9.6%, or 169 million, to 1.9 billion. A good two-thirds of all organic eggs were produced in Lower Saxony (44.8%), Bavaria (11.7%), and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (10.7%).
As in previous years, the number of birds kept in small groups and enriched cages fell again in 2024, by 3.8%, or 78,000, to 2.0 million hens. The number of eggs produced in this type of housing fell significantly by 8.2%, or 52 million, to 588 million. This is due to the ban on this type of housing, although existing farms are permitted to continue keeping birds in small groups and enriched cages until the end of 2025.
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