The VFF suggests consumers shop around, as some retailers seem to have no difficulty stocking them.
VFF vice-president Danyel Cucinotta, who is also an egg producer, said there were a number of reasons for the shortage, including seasonal issues impacted by winter.
About half of all eggs in Australia now come from free-range producers, and during colder periods, hens tend to lay fewer eggs.
Hens in more controlled environments tend to be more consistent in production, Ms Cucinotta said.
There were also less margins in free-range eggs so there was less incentive for producers to lift supply.
Edith Cowan University Associate Professor Flavio Macau has written in The Conversation, an online publication, that the confluence of economic and environmental events in 2022 has made things difficult for farmers wanting to meet demands.
“Increasing a laying flock takes about four months. An egg takes about three weeks to hatch. Under ideal conditions, chicks need another 17 weeks before they are ready to begin laying,” Assoc Prof Macau said.
“Any farmer who has begun this process in the past month will be producing more eggs by December. But then it will be summer, when they won’t need 20 per cent more hens to make up for their winter slump.”
He said feed costs, which typically represent 60 to 70 per cent of layer production costs, had been increasing along with transport, electricity and interest rates.
For a detailed analysis, see Mr Macau’s article on the Country News website.
35°C