U.S. Egg Output Rises 3%

WASHINGTON - Oct 22/04 - SNS -- Egg production reached 7.32 billion in the United States in September 2004, for a 3% increase over last year, notes the USDA in its latest production report.

Production included 6.26 billion table eggs, and 1.06 billion hatching eggs, of which 996 million were broiler-type and 60 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during September 2004 averaged 343 million, up 3% from a year earlier. September egg production per 100 layers was 2,133 eggs, up slightly from September 2003.

All layers in the U.S. on October 1, 2004, totaled 344 million, up 3% from a year ago. The 344 million layers consisted of 285 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 55.8 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.61 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on October 1, 2004, averaged 71.3 eggs per 100 layers, up slightly from a year ago.

Laying flocks in the 30 major egg producing States produced 6.84 billion eggs during September 2004, up 3% from a year ago. The average number of layers during September, at 321 million, was up 3% from a year ago.

Subscribers can read the full text of the article by Clicking here