06/08/2026
If you value genuine pasture raised eggs in Australia, this is something you should understand.
Over the past month or so, I have repeatedly seen H5N1 avian influenza described as "just another bird flu", a conspiracy, or something that is not worth worrying about.
For those of us in the egg industry, especially pasture raised producers, this is one of, if not the biggest, challenges the Australian egg industry has ever faced.
This is not a post asking for sympathy. It is simply an attempt to explain why.
Australia has egg producers of every size and production system. Barn, free range and pasture raised farms all face different challenges, but we do not all face the same level of risk.
Pasture raised hens spend their lives outdoors. That is exactly what many consumers value, but it also means they share their environment with wild birds.
H5N1 is spread by infected wild birds and contaminated environments. It only takes one infected bird visiting a paddock, dam or feeding area for a flock to be exposed. Scavenger birds such as crows and ravens can also spread the virus after feeding on infected wildlife.
While Australia is only at the beginning of this challenge, overseas we have already seen how quickly this virus can move through wild bird populations and poultry industries.
Unlike many countries around the world, Australia does not winter poultry indoors. Most pasture raised farms simply do not have large, purpose built sheds ready to house thousands of hens. Our farms were never designed that way.
For pasture raised producers, we cannot completely remove the risk. Every flock we own, and every new flock we invest in now comes with a level of uncertainty we have never experienced before.
What many people do not realise is that most small and medium egg producers cannot insure their birds or the income they would lose if H5N1 reached their farm. Yet the feed bills, wages, loan repayments and everyday operating costs continue regardless.
Farming has always meant dealing with droughts, floods and rising costs. H5N1 adds another major risk that is almost entirely outside our control.
There are very few businesses that require such significant upfront investment simply to operate, where that investment is in living animals, and where a single event outside your control can wipe out years of work overnight with little or no financial protection.
Because of this, you will likely start to see changes across the industry. For many smaller pasture raised producers, that will likely include higher operating costs, greater uncertainty and difficult decisions about pricing simply to give their businesses the best chance of surviving.
Sadly, I believe we will lose some smaller pasture raised egg producers over the coming years. Not because they are poor farmers, but because the financial and emotional pressure of carrying this level of risk may simply become too much.
The Australian egg industry will adapt. It always has.
The uncertainty is whether many of the smaller pasture raised farms will still be here by the time that adaptation happens.
The farming system so many Australians say they value is also one of the systems now carrying the greatest level of risk.
That is exactly why I wrote this post.
Not to ask for sympathy, but to help explain what is changing and why.
My hope is that when you start seeing those changes over the coming months and years, you'll better understand the challenges many smaller pasture raised farms are navigating.
Because if consumers understand what is happening, they can make informed choices about where they spend their money.
For many smaller pasture raised farms, those choices may ultimately determine whether they survive this challenge.
The future of pasture raised eggs in Australia won't be shaped by farmers alone. It will also be shaped by consumers who understand the challenges ahead and choose to support the farming systems they value. If this post has helped you better understand what's at stake, I'd be grateful if you shared it. Because informed choices begin with understanding.
