In an interview with Bloomberg News, Sanderson Farms CEO Joe Sanderson Jr. said that bird weight gains could slow in 2017. After years of raising larger chickens, processors are looking for ways to avoid “woody breast,” a texture problem in the meat . Sanderson said that the problematic texture is a result of genetics but added that the issue appears to be worse in heavier birds.
“In 2017, you will not see increases in live weights you’ve seen the last couple of years,” Sanderson said in a telephone interview on Thursday. “The increase is going to slow.”