Mutton and egg prices drop slightly before Spring Festival, supply and demand stable, down more than 30% year-on-year
As the saying goes, "In the third and fourth nine-day periods, it is cold enough to freeze pigs and dogs to death." Right now is the coldest time of the year, and many residents like to eat mutton to ward off the cold. On the 15th, the author visited supermarkets and butchers in Fengdu County and learned that the current price of skin-on mutton is about 17-19 yuan/jin, a slight decrease compared with the same period last year. At the same time, the retail price of eggs is between 3.78-4.3 yuan/jin, down more than 30% compared with the same period last year.
That day, in the livestock meat product sales area of New Century Fengdu Supermarket, the author saw cuts of mutton hung separately on iron hooks for sale. Among them, skin-on mutton from the hind leg was 19 yuan/jin, skin-on mutton from the front leg was 17.8 yuan/jin, and skin-on mutton chops were 17 yuan/jin. "Since the start of the Winter Solstice, we have launched a series of skin-on mutton slaughtered and sold on site. At this time last year, skin-on mutton from the hind leg was 21 yuan per jin. This year the price has dropped by 10%, and prices for mutton from other cuts have also dropped slightly." a person in charge of the supermarket said.
It was the peak shopping period at the time. The pork stall on one side was surrounded by customers, while the mutton stall looked somewhat quiet, with very few people buying mutton. It is said that in a day, the supermarket can basically sell the meat of three to four live sheep. Compared with the same period last year, sales volume was basically flat. Zhang Zonglin makes a living by slaughtering live sheep and selling meat at Minda Farmers Market. He said that in recent years, as the price of live sheep has fallen all the way, the price of mutton has also gradually declined.
Zhan Yonghui, deputy director of the Fengdu County Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau, said that in recent years, the county's goat farming industry has developed rapidly, but the number of residents eating mutton has not increased, which has caused market supply to exceed demand. "In addition, mutton is only sold intensively in winter, which is limited by time. It is expected that during the Spring Festival, mutton prices will still maintain a stable trend, and the possibility of an increase is not great." Zhan Yonghui said.
When stocking up on Spring Festival goods, eggs are also a must-have. On market day in Shuren Town, an egg seller in the farmers market called out: "4.1 yuan per jin; if you weigh 10 jin, it is one mao less per jin." Many farmers who came to the market gathered to buy, and most bought more than 10 jin each.
Several supermarkets also sell eggs, with prices marked on signs between 3.78-4.18 yuan/jin. "This year's egg prices can be considered cheap. At this time last year, each jin had already risen to more than 5 yuan." the person in charge of Kaixin Supermarket said. Although the current price has dropped by 30%, sales volume has not increased compared with the same period last year because of this.
Shifo Market Village, Xingyi TownLaying hen farmingMajor operator Xia Zhenfu. At present, his farm has 17,000 laying hens in stock, with a daily egg output of 1,500-2,000 jin. The products are mainly sold by wholesale to the main urban area and surrounding districts and counties. Over the past week, the wholesale price has been 3.3 yuan/jin. "If nearby residents come to buy eggs, I will also sell them at a retail price of 3.5 yuan per jin." Xia Zhenfu said that in the same period last year, the highest wholesale price of eggs was 4.4 yuan/jin. Generally, eggs laid the same day could be shipped out the next day, but now they are stuck for three to five days because market demand is sluggish.
People in the industry believe there are three main reasons for the drop in egg prices. First, pork and aquatic products are currently in sufficient supply, prices are relatively stable, and residents have more room to choose. Second, corn prices are declining, so farming costs have dropped. Third, this winter's climate is warm, which is conducive to laying hen production.