Cal-Maine detects bird flu at a Texas plant, affecting 1.6 million laying hens

By Ciara Linnane

Egg producer says 337,000 pullets also impacted for an overall 3.6% of its overall flock

Cal-Maine Foods Inc. said Tuesday it has detected bird flu at one of its plants in Parmer County, Texas, leading to the elimination of about 1.6 million laying hens and 337,000 pullets.

That's equal to about 3.6% of the egg producer's overall flock as of March 2, the company (CALM) said in a statement.

Production has been halted temporarily as the company follows the protocols of the USDA for dealing with highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI. The pathogen is still present in the wild bird population, making it difficult to predict future outbreaks as migration seasons unfold.

"There is no known risk related to HPAI associated with eggs that are currently in the market and no eggs have been recalled," the company said in a statement.

In December, Cal-Maine disclosed the detection of the same pathogen at a Kansas facility that affected about 684,000 laying hens, or 1.6% of the total flock.

The news comes a day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a person who was exposed to a dairy cow on Texas had tested positive for H5N1 bird flu, as MarketWatch's sister publication, Barron's, reported.

The company is due to report fiscal third-quarter earnings later Tuesday.

Cal-Maine's stock was slightly lower and is down 4% in the last 12 months, while the S&P 500 SPX has gained 26%.

-Ciara Linnane

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04-02-24 1321ET

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