Analysis of the Meat Pigeon Farming Situation and Prospects in 2020

Meat pigeons are rich in nutrients and highly valued for their medicinal properties, with tender and delicious meat; they are a premium tonic and nutritional product and are favored by many consumers on the market. However, in 2020 the livestock and poultry farming industry was affected by the pandemic, and the meat pigeon market also took a relatively big hit. So what are the prospects for meat pigeon farming?

All along, the livestock and poultry farming industry has faced both opportunities and challenges. In 2020 the livestock and poultry farming industry was affected by the pandemic, with live poultry markets closed and logistics suspended, so products faced a certain risk of being unsold.

In addition, because pork prices were too high in 2019, the number of poultry and livestock raised soared, possibly becoming the largest inventory in history. If poultry meat and egg prices hit a trough, the meat pigeon market may be affected.

At the same time, 2020 is also a year of opportunity for meat pigeon farming. As meat pigeons are listed as poultry, and with the introduction and implementation of national epidemic prevention and control policies and measures, it is believed that victory in the battle against the epidemic is just around the corner, and meat pigeon farming will also usher in a new spring.

Next, let us use the 2019 meat pigeon production data as a base.Looking at the annual trend, the breeding pigeon inventory of monitored enterprises in 2019 was the highest in nearly three years, and every month was higher than in previous years. Especially in the second half of the year, breeding pigeon enterprises all expanded production as much as possible, and inventory grew considerably; only in December did signs of a decline appear.

In December, the breeding pigeon sales volume of monitored enterprises was 53,000 pairs, down about 18% month on month, and structurally this was a fairly widespread phenomenon. Seasonally, sales should trend lower through the first quarter of next year.

Looking at the annual year-on-year comparison, the annual sales volumes in 2017-2019 were 34,000 pairs, 44,000 pairs and 65,000 pairs respectively, increases of 29.4% and 47.7%. For two consecutive years, the capacity released by monitored enterprises nearly doubled, which to a certain extent can be seen as the degree to which existing capacity supplements new capacity.

At the same time, the conversion ratio of productive pigeons to breeding pigeons at monitored enterprises has also increased year by year, with the median approaching 54%. It should be said that within less than two years it can recover to the level of early 2017.

Squab sales, however, showed a declining trend. In December, the squab sales volume of monitored enterprises was 2.03 million birds, down 3% month on month, but up 14% compared with 2017.

In terms of price, the average squab price in December was 19 yuan/bird, with a full-year average of 18 yuan/bird, far above the 2017 level of 13 yuan/bird. Due to the rapid growth in capacity, squab prices and sales volumes are both expected to trend downward through the first quarter.

As people's living standards continue to rise, their requirements for food also keep increasing. Squabs and pigeon eggs are green and healthy, rich in nutrients, and easy for the human body to digest and absorb. They are a nourishing delicacy suitable for all ages, exactly matching modern consumers' requirements for food.

The meat pigeon consumption boom has also gradually spread from large and medium-sized cities to townships and villages, gradually becoming a common delicacy on ordinary people's dining tables.

Overall, the meat pigeon market in 2020 may carry certain risks, and squab and pigeon egg prices will fluctuate to some extent, affecting farming profits.

But it is still relatively objective. As long as you maintain a good mindset, do a good job in feeding and management, make overall plans in light of your own actual situation, assess the situation, strictly control product quality, and raise pigeons well, healthily and productively, that is the path to success.