April 8 (Reuters) -

The largest U.S. egg producer, Cal-Maine Foods ( CALM ), is

cooperating with a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into

high egg prices and whether producers have conspired to raise

them, the company said on Tuesday.

The DOJ sent Cal-Maine a civil investigative demand last

month, the Ridgeland, Mississippi-based company said in a

regulatory filing, adding that the eventual scope, duration and

outcome of the investigation could not be predicted at the time.

Abigail Slater, head of the DOJ's antitrust division,

has said the division will prioritize enforcement against

anticompetitive conduct

in U.S. consumer markets.

Egg prices have declined in recent weeks from

record highs

, though their wholesale cost is still up 60% from this time

last year at $3 per dozen, according to USDA data.

Weaker demand and a lull in new cases of bird flu have

helped cool prices, analysts said.

Industry experts said Friday that tariffs levied by the

Trump administration could

boost the price

of imported eggs.